TTHENAAGO/NAHANNI BUTTE - The RCMP has retrieved the remains of two passengers who died in a helicopter crash near Nahanni Butte last week.

The pilot, who was the lone survivor of the crash, was in an Edmonton hospital recovering from serious injuries as of Aug. 7.

Police were waiting to interview him to further their investigation of what caused the crash.

"We need to get his side of the story and in all fairness get a better understanding directly from the man that was operating the aircraft as to what happened," RCMP Sgt. Francis Cullen said.

The Robinson R44 helicopter was about to land in the mountain range on the evening of Aug. 4 when it crashed.

John Pearson, an investigator with the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, said the pilot had been trying to land when the helicopter turned in the opposite direction. Its tail struck the mountain ridge and the helicopter rolled down the mountain for about 300 metres before bursting into flames, destroying the aircraft.

Rescuers recovered the remains of the deceased amid the plane's wreckage in the Liard Mountain Range, about 28 km southwest of Nahanni Butte, around 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 6 and sent them to the NWT coroner's office in Yellowknife.

RCMP were in the process of notifying the bereaved family members Friday afternoon before releasing any additional details.

"We are still working at confirming identity and notifying next of kin for at least one of the deceased and the investigation is currently with the coroners' office for that purpose," Cullen said, explaining that police had not yet officially confirmed either of the passengers' identities.

The safety board is investigating the crash as well.