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2 Americans on jet that crashed in Alps, Germanwings CEO says 2 Americans on jet that crashed in Alps, Germanwings CEO says
(35 minutes later)
DÜSSELDORF, Germany — France’s president was joined Wednesday by the leaders of Germany and Spain in an alpine pasture now used as a base for experts seeking to unravel why an Airbus jet abruptly dropped from its flight path with 150 people aboard. DÜSSELDORF, Germany — France’s president was joined Wednesday by the leaders of Germany and Spain in an Alpine pasture now used as a base for experts seeking to unravel why an Airbus jet abruptly dropped from its flight path with 150 people aboard.
Walking side by side, the three were briefed on the grim recovery efforts in the snow-bound French mountains and the struggle to learn what went wrong in Tuesday’s disaster, which included 144 passengers and six crew members on a flight from Spain to Germany. The three, walking side by side, were briefed on the grim recovery efforts in the snow-bound French mountains and the struggle to learn what went wrong in Tuesday’s disaster. The flight, en route from Spain to Germany, was carrying 144 passengers and six crew members.
Hours earlier, officials announced a possible slowdown in the probe: One of the flight recorders — known as black boxes — was damaged when the A320 operated by the budget carrier Germanwings slammed into a frozen ridge near the southern French town of Seynes-les-Alpes. Hours earlier, officials announced a possible slowdown in the probe: One of the flight recorders — or black boxes — was recovered in a damaged state amid the wide debris field. The A320, operated by the budget carrier Germanwings, slammed into a frozen ridge near the southern French town of Seynes-les-Alpes.
Experts tried to repair and rebuild sections of the black box in hopes of gaining their first insights into the possible causes of the crash, whose victims were mainly from Germany and Spain but included other nationalities including two Americans. Experts tried to repair and rebuild sections of the black box, the cockpit voice recorder, in hopes of gaining their first insights into the possible causes of the crash, whose victims were mainly from Germany and Spain but included other nationalities, two Americans among them.
French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve told France’s RTL radio that all options must be explored into what happened to the doomed aircraft, but that a terrorist attack was not the most likely scenario. French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve told France’s RTL radio that all theories about what might have caused the crash must be explored but that a terrorist attack was not the most likely scenario.
[The plane’s final moments, minute by minute ][The plane’s final moments, minute by minute ]
Bundled against strong winds, French President Francois Hollande thanked the teams leading the efforts to reach the crash site by helicopter and by foot. Hollande was accompanied by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. Bundled against strong winds, French President François Hollande thanked the teams leading the efforts to reach the crash site by helicopter and by foot. Hollande was accompanied by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.
Meanwhile, the human toll from the crash came clearer. Those lost included two babies, two opera singers, an Australian mother and her adult son vacationing together, and 16 German 10th-graders and their teachers from the same school returning from an exchange trip. Meanwhile, the human toll from the crash came clearer. Those lost included two babies, two opera singers, an Australian mother and her adult son vacationing together, and 16 German 10th-graders and their teachers returning from an exchange trip.
The CEO of the carrier Germanwings, Thomas Winkelmann, said two Americans also were on board, the Associated Press reported. The CEO of Germanwings, Thomas Winkelmann, said two Americans also were on board, the Associated Press reported.
“The site is a picture of horror. The grief of the families and friends is immeasurable,” German Foreign Minister Frank Walter-Steinmeier said after being flown over the crash scene. “We must now stand together. We are united in our grief.” “The site is a picture of horror. The grief of the families and friends is immeasurable,” German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said after being flown over the crash scene. “We must now stand together. We are united in our grief.”
The flight by Germanwings, an arm of the German carrier Lufthansa, had left Barcelona en route to Düsseldorf nearly 30 minutes late for reasons that remained unexplained. It traveled on a normal flight path before suddenly shifting into a steep descent moments after reaching its cruising altitude of 38,000 feet.The flight by Germanwings, an arm of the German carrier Lufthansa, had left Barcelona en route to Düsseldorf nearly 30 minutes late for reasons that remained unexplained. It traveled on a normal flight path before suddenly shifting into a steep descent moments after reaching its cruising altitude of 38,000 feet.
Within eight minutes, the plane had lurched down to 6,000 feet before falling off French radar screens at 10:53 a.m. local time.Within eight minutes, the plane had lurched down to 6,000 feet before falling off French radar screens at 10:53 a.m. local time.
The pilots, French officials said, had not signaled air traffic control immediately before or during their sudden descent. The plane then crashed into rugged mountain terrain near the French ski resort of Prads-Haute-Bléone, where rescue workers and officials described a tableau of pulverized devastation. The pilots, French officials said, had not signaled air traffic control immediately before or during their sudden descent. The plane then crashed into rugged mountain terrain near the French ski resort of Prads-Haute-Bleon, where rescue workers and officials described a tableau of pulverized devastation.
[How safe is the A320?][How safe is the A320?]
Debris seemed “so small and shiny they appear like patches of snow on the mountainside,” said Pierre-Henry Brandet, France’s Interior Ministry spokesman, after flying over the site. Debris seemed “so small and shiny they appear like patches of snow on the mountainside,” said Pierre-Henry Brandet, a spokesman for France’s Interior Ministry, after flying over the site.
Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr told the German public TV network ARD that Tuesday was the “blackest day in our company’s history.”Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr told the German public TV network ARD that Tuesday was the “blackest day in our company’s history.”
German Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Schäfer said the full breakdown on the passengers’ nationalities was still being compiled, but it was estimated that half were German citizens. Passengers from Spain accounted for dozens of others.German Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Schäfer said the full breakdown on the passengers’ nationalities was still being compiled, but it was estimated that half were German citizens. Passengers from Spain accounted for dozens of others.
The disaster put a new focus on the A320, a workhorse of the skies that has now been at the center of a dozen fatal accidents since 1988.The disaster put a new focus on the A320, a workhorse of the skies that has now been at the center of a dozen fatal accidents since 1988.
Aerial photos showed debris scattered across a five-acre expanse of frigid outcroppings. At least 10 coroners from Marseille traveled to the town of Seyne-les-Alpes to receive the bodies of victims.Aerial photos showed debris scattered across a five-acre expanse of frigid outcroppings. At least 10 coroners from Marseille traveled to the town of Seyne-les-Alpes to receive the bodies of victims.
The Airbus A320 enjoys a track record as one of the safest jets in the skies. For every 1 million takeoffs, the A320 fleet has about 0.14 fatal accidents, according to a Boeing study that analyzed five decades of air disasters. That puts the A320 on par with the Boeing 777 as one of the most reliable commercial planes.The Airbus A320 enjoys a track record as one of the safest jets in the skies. For every 1 million takeoffs, the A320 fleet has about 0.14 fatal accidents, according to a Boeing study that analyzed five decades of air disasters. That puts the A320 on par with the Boeing 777 as one of the most reliable commercial planes.
Yet the crash Tuesday follows a number of high-profile A320 crashes, including the loss in December of an AirAsia jet in the Java Sea that killed 162 passengers and crew during severe thunderstorms. Weather, however, was reported to have been clear and calm in the vicinity of the flight Tuesday. Yet the crash Tuesday follows a number of high-profile A320 crashes, including the loss in December of an AirAsia jet in the Java Sea that killed 162 passengers and crew members during severe thunderstorms. Weather, however, was reported to have been clear and calm in the vicinity of the flight Tuesday.
Responding to German media speculation that a computer glitch could have forced the plane into a steep dive, airline officials said they thought that had not caused the crash and that the A320’s computer systems were fully updated.Responding to German media speculation that a computer glitch could have forced the plane into a steep dive, airline officials said they thought that had not caused the crash and that the A320’s computer systems were fully updated.
Asked whether the airline would ground its A320s, Germanwings chief executive Winkelmann said the planes have a “fabulous service record.” Asked whether the airline would ground its A320s, Winkelmann said the planes have a “fabulous service record.”
He said the aircraft lost Tuesday flew its first flight in 1990 and was purchased by Lufthansa in 1991. It was transferred to Germanwings last year and had flown 583,000 hours across 46,700 flights.He said the aircraft lost Tuesday flew its first flight in 1990 and was purchased by Lufthansa in 1991. It was transferred to Germanwings last year and had flown 583,000 hours across 46,700 flights.
That makes it one of the older A320s but still within the average age of planes in service. Its most recent routine maintenance check, the company said, took place Monday in Düsseldorf, with the last full inspection of the aircraft in the summer of 2013. That makes it one of the older A320s but still within the average age of planes in service. Its most recent routine maintenance check, the company said, took place Monday in Düsseldorf, with the last full inspection of the aircraft being performed in the summer of 2013.
The flight’s captain, Winkelmann said, had more than 10 years of experience with Lufthansa and Germanwings and had logged more than 6,000 flight hours.The flight’s captain, Winkelmann said, had more than 10 years of experience with Lufthansa and Germanwings and had logged more than 6,000 flight hours.
Yet aspects of the crash baffled experts.Yet aspects of the crash baffled experts.
The plane’s descent was sudden, but it still took eight minutes. Some experts wondered why no distress signal was sent during that period. Others countered that no mayday would have been likely if the pilots were busy managing a catastrophic error. The plane’s descent was sudden, but it still took eight minutes. Some experts wondered why no distress signal was sent during that period. Others countered that no mayday signal would have been likely if the pilots were busy managing a catastrophic error.
More surprising for some was that the plane ran into trouble mid-flight. More surprising for some was that the plane ran into trouble midflight.
“The plane was cruising at 38,000 feet — planes don’t crash in cruise,” said Anthony Davis, a ­London-based aviation specialist. “They crash in takeoff or landing or they have engine failure, but it’s very unusual anything should happen at that altitude.“The plane was cruising at 38,000 feet — planes don’t crash in cruise,” said Anthony Davis, a ­London-based aviation specialist. “They crash in takeoff or landing or they have engine failure, but it’s very unusual anything should happen at that altitude.
A full passenger list had yet to be released, but Winkelmann said 67 of the passengers appeared to be German nationals. The German Opera on the Rhine said one of its baritones, Oleg Bryjak, was on the flight. Germany, though, was gripped with the story of a group of 16 10th-graders and two teachers from Joseph König High School in Haltern, Germany, who were on the plane. Britain announced Wednesday three of its nationals were aboard the stricken aircraft. A full passenger list had yet to be released, but Winkelmann said 67 of the passengers appeared to be German nationals. The German Opera on the Rhine said one of its baritones, Oleg Bryjak, was on the flight. Germany, though, was gripped with the story of a group of 16 10th-graders and two teachers from Joseph König High School in Haltern, Germany, who were on the plane. Britain announced Wednesday three of its nationals were aboard the aircraft.
The German students had been on a one-week language exchange trip in Spain. A news broadcast by the German public TV network ARD showed groups of students standing in the schoolyard, looking distraught and lighting candles. The German students had been on a one-week language exchange trip in Spain. A news broadcast by ARD showed groups of students standing in the schoolyard, looking distraught and lighting candles.
These events are so terrible that we haven’t processed them yet,” the school’s principal, Ulrich Wessel told journalists in Haltern, urging them to respect the students’ privacy. “These events are so terrible that we haven’t processed them yet,” the school’s principal, Ulrich Wessel, told journalists in Haltern, urging them to respect the students’ privacy.
European officials said that at least 45 passengers were Spanish nationals, one was Belgian and an unknown number were Turkish.European officials said that at least 45 passengers were Spanish nationals, one was Belgian and an unknown number were Turkish.
Daniela Deane reported from London. Anthony Faiola in Leusden, Netherlands, Souad Mekhennet in Leusden, Brian Murphy and Abby Ohlheiser in Washington, Karla Adam in London and Cléophée Demoustier in Paris contributed to this report. Daniela Deane reported from London. Anthony Faiola and Souad Mekhennet in Leusden, Netherlands, Brian Murphy and Abby Ohlheiser in Washington, Karla Adam in London and Cléophée Demoustier in Paris contributed to this report.
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