The ill-fated commercial airliner that crashed into a home in Buffalo killing 50 people was on autopilot seconds before the fatal accident, indicating that the pilot may have violated federal safety recommendations.

Under the United States flying laws, the pilot has to take manual control of the plane during icy condition as investigators were still trying to determine the exact cause of the crash of the flight which originated from Newark.

As officials scanned through the list of passengers, so far only 42 of the 49 passengers, who were killed in the crash, have been identified, including John Roberts III who was living in India.

The passenger was identified as living in India by local newspaper Buffalo News though an official list is yet to be released by the airlines.

According to the investigators, the plane was on autopilot until 26 seconds before the crash which could be in violation of guidelines that in icing conditions, the pilot should take over manual control and undertake requisite measures.

But the Federal Aviation Administration's guidelines to disengage the autopilot when icing occurs are only recommendatory and not mandatory.