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| Plane carrying at least 150 crashes in France; no survivors expected | Plane carrying at least 150 crashes in France; no survivors expected |
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| An Airbus plane flying from Barcelona to Düsseldorf crashed Tuesday in southern France in a rugged mountain region, complicating efforts to reach the site even as officials predicted there were no survivors among at least 150 people aboard. | |
| The cause of the crash was not immediately clear, but data from flight trackers suggested the A320 went into a rapid descent before slamming into an area near a French ski resort. | The cause of the crash was not immediately clear, but data from flight trackers suggested the A320 went into a rapid descent before slamming into an area near a French ski resort. |
| The number of people aboard — which included two babies — was revised higher from 150 after reviewing the manifest, said Germanwings CEO Thomas Winkelmann. But other company information also referred to 150: 144 passengers and six crew. | The number of people aboard — which included two babies — was revised higher from 150 after reviewing the manifest, said Germanwings CEO Thomas Winkelmann. But other company information also referred to 150: 144 passengers and six crew. |
| The reason for the discrepancy was not immediately clear. | The reason for the discrepancy was not immediately clear. |
| French Interior Ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet told the Associated Press that crash debris from the budget carrier Germanwings was spread across an area at about 6,600 feet altitude. Snow and lack of roads hampered efforts to reach the site in the foothills of the Alps. | French Interior Ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet told the Associated Press that crash debris from the budget carrier Germanwings was spread across an area at about 6,600 feet altitude. Snow and lack of roads hampered efforts to reach the site in the foothills of the Alps. |
| Germanwings official Oliver Wagner told German television that the plane carried 144 passengers and six crew members on board. He did not give a breakdown of nationalities, but many are believed to be from Germany and Spain. | Germanwings official Oliver Wagner told German television that the plane carried 144 passengers and six crew members on board. He did not give a breakdown of nationalities, but many are believed to be from Germany and Spain. |
| Previous reports placed the total number of passengers and crew slightly lower. | Previous reports placed the total number of passengers and crew slightly lower. |
| At a new conference in Cologne, Germanwings officials said there were contradictory reports on whether a distress signal was sent, and investigators were closely studying records of the plane’s nearly eight-minute rapid descent before the crash. | At a new conference in Cologne, Germanwings officials said there were contradictory reports on whether a distress signal was sent, and investigators were closely studying records of the plane’s nearly eight-minute rapid descent before the crash. |
| French President François Hollande said he did not expect survivors. “It’s a tragedy on our soil,” he said. | French President François Hollande said he did not expect survivors. “It’s a tragedy on our soil,” he said. |
| Germanwings, which is run by Lufthansa, changed its Twitter logo — normally maroon and yellow — to black and white shortly after the crash. | Germanwings, which is run by Lufthansa, changed its Twitter logo — normally maroon and yellow — to black and white shortly after the crash. |
| Standing next to Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, who were on an official state visit in Paris, Hollande said at 1:30 p.m. local time that he had mobilized police, civil services and the army, but said the difficultly of the terrain meant that it would be “another few hours” before they reached the crash site. | Standing next to Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, who were on an official state visit in Paris, Hollande said at 1:30 p.m. local time that he had mobilized police, civil services and the army, but said the difficultly of the terrain meant that it would be “another few hours” before they reached the crash site. |
| He said German, Spanish and Turkish nationals were among the victims. | He said German, Spanish and Turkish nationals were among the victims. |
| “The accident happened in a very difficult to access zone,” he said. | “The accident happened in a very difficult to access zone,” he said. |
| [Ten major international airlines disasters in the last 50 years] | [Ten major international airlines disasters in the last 50 years] |
| Hollande said he had spoken to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, describing her as being “in extreme shock.” | Hollande said he had spoken to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, describing her as being “in extreme shock.” |
| Felipe VI has cut his visit to Paris short, and is retuning to Spain in the wake of the crash. | Felipe VI has cut his visit to Paris short, and is retuning to Spain in the wake of the crash. |
| In a tweeted statement, Lufthansa and Germanwings confirmed that the plane “suffered an accident over the French Alps.” The airline has set up a hotline for families of those on board the flight for “care and assistance.” | In a tweeted statement, Lufthansa and Germanwings confirmed that the plane “suffered an accident over the French Alps.” The airline has set up a hotline for families of those on board the flight for “care and assistance.” |
| “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the passengers and crew members,” the airline added. | “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the passengers and crew members,” the airline added. |
| In a brief statement, a somber Merkel said “we are uncertain about the direct cause of the accident and any speculation on the cause is not relevant.” | In a brief statement, a somber Merkel said “we are uncertain about the direct cause of the accident and any speculation on the cause is not relevant.” |
| She added, “Let me tell you please that this is a time and hour of great sorrow and grief. We should be thinking about people who have lost relatives and also friends.” | She added, “Let me tell you please that this is a time and hour of great sorrow and grief. We should be thinking about people who have lost relatives and also friends.” |
| In Düsseldorf, family members were taken to building whose windows were partially covered by sheets to block the view of onlookers. | |
| The single-aisle A320 is one of the world’s most popular aircraft, mostly used for short-haul flights. Airbus said more than 3,600 are in operation around the globe. | The single-aisle A320 is one of the world’s most popular aircraft, mostly used for short-haul flights. Airbus said more than 3,600 are in operation around the globe. |
| In late December, an A320 operated by AirAsia crashed into the Java Sea off Indonesia, killing all 155 people and seven crew members. Investigators believe the Singapore-bound plane stalled during steep climb to avoid harsh weather. | In late December, an A320 operated by AirAsia crashed into the Java Sea off Indonesia, killing all 155 people and seven crew members. Investigators believe the Singapore-bound plane stalled during steep climb to avoid harsh weather. |
| Read more: | Read more: |
| Ten major international airlines disasters in the last 50 years | Ten major international airlines disasters in the last 50 years |
| Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world | Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world |