Tragic Loss of Life......R.I.P To everyone connected....
Reported in Liverpool Echo
Alps plane crash: 148 feared dead after plane crashes in the French Alps
11:30, 24 March 2015 By Agency Staff
It is unlikely there will be any survivors in the crash involving an Airbus A320 flying from Spain to Germany
As many as 148 people are feared dead after an Airbus A320 passenger plane crashed in the French Alps.
A passenger plane has crashed in the French Alps and as many as 148 people are feared dead.
French President Francois Hollande said it was unlikely there would be any survivors in the crash involving an Airbus A320 flying from Spain to Germany.
The plane was operated by low-cost carrier Germanwings, which is owned by German airline Lufthansa.
It is thought to have gone down near the town of Digne, having left Barcelona on a flight to Dusseldorf. There are believed to have been 142 passengers and six crew on board.
A French government spokeswoman said: "I can confirm that the accident took place. We do not know the exact number of people involved but hope to release more information at a later stage. We are trying to find out more information about what happened."
Germanwings said: "We have recently become aware of media reports speculating on an incident, though we still do not have any own confirmed information.
"As soon as definite information is available, we shall inform the media immediately."
A German Airbus passenger plane has crashed in the French Alps, according to reports
In a statement on Twitter, Airbus said: "We are aware of the media reports. All efforts are now going towards assessing the situation. We will provide further information as soon as available."
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: "My heart goes out to the family and friends of those people who appear to have lost their lives in this devastating air crash in the Alps."
President Hollande said: "An aeroplane of the Germanwings company has just crashed near to Digne.
"I want to express all my solidarity with the families of the victims. A counselling unit will be established to provide psychological support.
"I will discuss the incident with (Germany's) Chancellor Angela Merkel and Spanish individual Philip VI, who is visiting us today. As we wait, our first feeling should be one of solidarity."
He added: "I will have meetings with Chancellor Merkel because there were a number of German victims, and I will also contact an individual 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.
"This is a mourning period, because this is a tragedy that has happened on our territory. I intend to find out if there were other consequences of the accident ... and we will find out more in the hours to come."
and having
or an air stewardess takes the place in the cockpit if it has to be,german law allows short emergency trips out of the cockpits by pilots 