"An outside party" has offered to crack the iPhone in question...
Looks like it was successful. Official filing to vacate the initial order mentions the FBI has now accessed the data.
http://pdfserver.amlaw.com/nlj/FBI_apple_20160328.pdfPeople are guessing the flash ram was cloned, allowing a reset of the possible 10 tries counter. Important to note that the erase after 10 tries is not a default on setting. Looks like the contract from the FBI to a company for $15k was uncovered for whatever process was performed.
http://www.macrumors.com/2016/03/23/fbi-israeli-firm-cellebrite-to-unlock-iphone/