The New York City medical examiner's office says its workers are now sifting soil for possible human remains at a site near the World Trade Center where a plane part was found last week.

Personnel from the fire and police departments also were at the scene Tuesday.

The aircraft part was discovered last Wednesday, wedged between an apartment building and a mosque.

In 2010, the mosque prompted national debate about Islam and freedom of speech because it's located just blocks from ground zero.

Authorities believe the plane part is from one of the two hijacked airliners that brought down the trade center on Sept. 11, 2001.

Of the nearly 3,000 victims, the remains of about 1,000 have never been recovered.