Full details are still emerging surrounding the tragic crash of a Lufthansa Germanwings Airbus A320 aircraft in the French Alps, which is understood to have been carrying 144 passengers and six crew.

The 24-year old aircraft (flight number 4U9525) was flying from Barcelona to Düsseldorf and is understood to have come down in Meolans-Revel – described as a partially inhabited, but remote location in the Alps, approximately 65 miles north of Nice in France.

French President Francois Hollande has already indicated that it looks as though there will be no survivors, following a distress call issued just before 10.00am this morning (European time). Hollande has already told journalists he believes that a large number of passengers were German citizens, while the government in Spain has confirmed that 45 passengers were Spanish.

 

In a statement earlier today he said: “I will have meetings with Chancellor Merkel because there were a number of German victims, and I will also contact the King of Spain.

 

“This is an air tragedy and we will try to understand the reasons and causes of the accident, and obviously we will give the concerned authorities as well as the victims support.”

 

 

TELEPHONE HOTLINE IS NOW OPEN
In an official statement this afternoon, Lufthansa Germanwings said: “We must confirm to our deepest regret that Germanwings flight 4U 9525 from Barcelona to Düsseldorf has suffered an accident over the French Alps.

“The flight was being operated with an Airbus A320 aircraft, and was carrying 144 passengers and six crew members. Lufthansa and Germanwings have established a telephone hotline. The toll-free 0800 11 33 55 77 number is available to all the families of the passengers involved for care and assistance.

“Everyone at Germanwings and Lufthansa is deeply shocked and saddened by these events. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the passengers and crew members.”
[Top image: A Germanwings Airbus A319 which is similar in style to the A320 which crashed earlier today].