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Terrorism Unlikely in Germanwings Crash, French Officials Say Germanwings Crash Investigation Hits Snag in Retrieving Data
(35 minutes later)
PARIS — Rescuers on Wednesday resumed the difficult task of searching for the 150 victims of a deadly plane crash in the French Alps, as France’s interior minister said that terrorism was not at the top of the list of potential causes.PARIS — Rescuers on Wednesday resumed the difficult task of searching for the 150 victims of a deadly plane crash in the French Alps, as France’s interior minister said that terrorism was not at the top of the list of potential causes.
But the search for clues about what caused the crash was dealt a setback Wednesday afternoon, as investigators said they had so far been unable to retrieve any data from the plane’s cockpit voice recorder. The inquiry has been hampered further, an official said, by the discovery that the second black box, which was found on Wednesday, was severely damaged, and its memory card was dislodged and missing.
The plane, an Airbus A320 operated by the budget carrier Germanwings, was en route to Düsseldorf, Germany, from Barcelona, Spain, on Tuesday morning when it lost altitude rapidly and slammed into the French Alps, killing all 144 passengers and six crew members on board.The plane, an Airbus A320 operated by the budget carrier Germanwings, was en route to Düsseldorf, Germany, from Barcelona, Spain, on Tuesday morning when it lost altitude rapidly and slammed into the French Alps, killing all 144 passengers and six crew members on board.
Footage of the site showed a remote and craggy landscape dominated by imposing mountains. The French newspaper Le Monde noted that the impact of the crash was so severe that the plane had been reduced to “confetti,” creating a serious challenge for search teams and investigators.Footage of the site showed a remote and craggy landscape dominated by imposing mountains. The French newspaper Le Monde noted that the impact of the crash was so severe that the plane had been reduced to “confetti,” creating a serious challenge for search teams and investigators.
Lufthansa, the parent company of Germanwings, has characterized the crash as an accident. But as investigators reviewed one of the plane’s so-called black boxes, unanswered questions remained, including why the aircraft had descended for eight minutes before crashing, and why an aircraft with a good safety record had crashed in largely clear weather. Lufthansa, the parent company of Germanwings, has characterized the crash as an accident. But as investigators reviewed one of the plane’s so-called black boxes, questions remained, including why the aircraft had descended for eight minutes before crashing, and why an aircraft with a good safety record had crashed in largely clear weather.
Speaking on the French radio station RTL, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said on Wednesday that terrorism was “not a privileged hypothesis at the moment,” but that no theories had been definitively excluded. Mr. Cazeneuve said the size of the area over which debris was scattered suggested that the aircraft had not exploded in the air but rather had disintegrated on impact.Speaking on the French radio station RTL, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said on Wednesday that terrorism was “not a privileged hypothesis at the moment,” but that no theories had been definitively excluded. Mr. Cazeneuve said the size of the area over which debris was scattered suggested that the aircraft had not exploded in the air but rather had disintegrated on impact.
He said that the plane’s cockpit voice recorder, the black box that had been recovered, was damaged but that investigators expected to be able to recover the conversations stored on its memory chip “in the coming hours.” He said that the plane’s cockpit voice recorder, the first black box that was recovered, was damaged, but that investigators expected to be able to recover the conversations stored on its memory chip.
Those conversations were the main piece of hard evidence that investigators had to work with as they tried to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the crash. But as of early afternoon, a senior official involved in the investigation said analysts had so far been unsuccessful in retrieving any information from the cockpit voice recorder.
The official said that workers on the scene had found the casing of the second black box, the flight data recorder, which investigators had hoped would provide significant information about the flight, including its speed, altitude and direction. But he said that the crash had severely damaged the box, and that the vital memory chip inside it had been dislodged.
One of the main questions outstanding is why the pilots did not communicate with air traffic controllers as the plane began its unusual descent, suggesting that either the pilots or the plane’s automated systems may have been trying to maintain control of the aircraft as it lost altitude.One of the main questions outstanding is why the pilots did not communicate with air traffic controllers as the plane began its unusual descent, suggesting that either the pilots or the plane’s automated systems may have been trying to maintain control of the aircraft as it lost altitude.
Among the theories that have been put forward by air safety analysts not involved in the investigation is the possibility that the pilots could have been incapacitated by a sudden event such as a fire or a drop in cabin pressure.Among the theories that have been put forward by air safety analysts not involved in the investigation is the possibility that the pilots could have been incapacitated by a sudden event such as a fire or a drop in cabin pressure.
A senior French military official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation was continuing, said that the lack of communication from the pilots during the plane’s descent was disturbing, and that the possibility that their silence was deliberate could not be ruled out. The senior French official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation was continuing, said that the lack of communication from the pilots during the plane’s descent was disturbing, and that the possibility that their silence was deliberate could not be ruled out.
France’s air accident investigation bureau was expected to hold a briefing at its offices in Le Bourget, near Paris, on Wednesday afternoon. The agency, which is leading the technical inquiry into the crash, sent seven investigators to the crash site on Tuesday. They have been joined by their counterparts from Germany as well as by technical advisers from Airbus and CFM International, the manufacturer of the plane’s engines. France’s air accident investigation bureau was expected to hold a briefing at its offices in Le Bourget, near Paris, on Wednesday afternoon. The agency, which is leading the technical inquiry into the crash, sent seven investigators to the crash site on Tuesday. They have been joined by their counterparts from Germany, as well as by technical advisers from Airbus and CFM International, the manufacturer of the plane’s engines.
Speaking on Europe 1 radio, Jean-Paul Troadec, a former director of the French air accident investigation bureau, said that the analysis of the cockpit voice recorder would “help us to understand what happened in the final minutes of the flight.”Speaking on Europe 1 radio, Jean-Paul Troadec, a former director of the French air accident investigation bureau, said that the analysis of the cockpit voice recorder would “help us to understand what happened in the final minutes of the flight.”
“Nonetheless,” he added, “just having these recordings is not going to be sufficient” to make any definitive conclusions about the cause of the crash — a process that could take weeks, if not months.“Nonetheless,” he added, “just having these recordings is not going to be sufficient” to make any definitive conclusions about the cause of the crash — a process that could take weeks, if not months.
A preliminary transcript of cockpit voice recordings was expected to be available to investigators by Wednesday afternoon.
Mr. Troadec said the voice recordings would need to be synchronized with the contents of the second black box, the flight data recorder, which tracks roughly 1,300 statistics, including the plane’s position, speed, altitude and direction. Locating that recorder remained a priority for search teams.Mr. Troadec said the voice recordings would need to be synchronized with the contents of the second black box, the flight data recorder, which tracks roughly 1,300 statistics, including the plane’s position, speed, altitude and direction. Locating that recorder remained a priority for search teams.
With more than 600 police officers and other emergency workers at the scene, Mr. Troadec said one of the big challenges for investigators would be to protect the debris at the crash site from any inadvertent damage.With more than 600 police officers and other emergency workers at the scene, Mr. Troadec said one of the big challenges for investigators would be to protect the debris at the crash site from any inadvertent damage.
“We need to ensure that all the evidence is well preserved,” Mr. Troadec said, referring both to the pieces of the plane littered across the steep slopes as well as to the remains of the victims. The identification of the victims will most likely require matching DNA from the remains with samples from relatives.“We need to ensure that all the evidence is well preserved,” Mr. Troadec said, referring both to the pieces of the plane littered across the steep slopes as well as to the remains of the victims. The identification of the victims will most likely require matching DNA from the remains with samples from relatives.
The recovery effort will be a laborious task given the state of the wreckage, the difficult terrain and the fact that the crash site is so remote that it could be reached only by helicopter. The recovery effort will be a laborious task, given the state of the wreckage, the difficult terrain and the fact that the crash site is so remote that it could be reached only by helicopter.
President François Hollande of France, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy of Spain were expected to visit the crash site Wednesday afternoon to pay their respects and observe the search efforts.
The identities of the victims were expected to be released on Wednesday. The plane’s passengers, most of whom were German or Spanish, included 16 German high school students and two teachers who were returning from an exchange program near Barcelona. The Liceu opera house in Barcelona said on Tuesday that two singers who had been performing in Wagner’s “Siegfried” were also among the victims: the contralto Maria Radner and the baritone Oleg Bryjak.The identities of the victims were expected to be released on Wednesday. The plane’s passengers, most of whom were German or Spanish, included 16 German high school students and two teachers who were returning from an exchange program near Barcelona. The Liceu opera house in Barcelona said on Tuesday that two singers who had been performing in Wagner’s “Siegfried” were also among the victims: the contralto Maria Radner and the baritone Oleg Bryjak.
Éric Sapet, a member of a mountain firefighters’ unit who had been at the crash site, was quoted by Le Monde as saying that the plane had been “pulverized” and that it was no longer possible to even tell that the scattered debris had once been an aircraft.Éric Sapet, a member of a mountain firefighters’ unit who had been at the crash site, was quoted by Le Monde as saying that the plane had been “pulverized” and that it was no longer possible to even tell that the scattered debris had once been an aircraft.
President François Hollande of France and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany arrived on Wednesday afternoon by air force helicopter in Seyne-les-Alpes, a village near the crash site, to pay their respects and meet rescue workers and other officials. They were joined by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy of Spain.
Martin Riecken, a spokesman for Lufthansa in Frankfurt, said late Tuesday that a small number of pilots and flight attendants had given notice that they would not fly on Wednesday.Martin Riecken, a spokesman for Lufthansa in Frankfurt, said late Tuesday that a small number of pilots and flight attendants had given notice that they would not fly on Wednesday.
“Our employees are very distressed,” he said, adding that Lufthansa crew members would be brought in to replace Germanwings employees as necessary. “People are in a state of shock.”“Our employees are very distressed,” he said, adding that Lufthansa crew members would be brought in to replace Germanwings employees as necessary. “People are in a state of shock.”
While there were many questions about the crash, investigators said they found the silence from the cockpit deeply disturbing.While there were many questions about the crash, investigators said they found the silence from the cockpit deeply disturbing.
“I don’t like it,” said the senior French military official, who is involved in the investigation and who cautioned that his initial analysis was based on the very limited information currently available. “To me it seems very weird — this very long descent at normal speed without any communications, though the weather was absolutely clear.” “I don’t like it,” said the senior French official, who is involved in the investigation and who cautioned that his initial analysis was based on the very limited information currently available. “To me, it seems very weird: this very long descent at normal speed without any communications, though the weather was absolutely clear.”
This official said that the lack of communication suggested that the pilots might have been incapacitated as a result of an onboard failure such as a loss of cabin pressure, which could have deprived the crew members of oxygen.This official said that the lack of communication suggested that the pilots might have been incapacitated as a result of an onboard failure such as a loss of cabin pressure, which could have deprived the crew members of oxygen.
While all pilots are equipped with emergency oxygen masks, the pilots would first have to be aware that a depressurization had occurred, the official said.While all pilots are equipped with emergency oxygen masks, the pilots would first have to be aware that a depressurization had occurred, the official said.
“If for any reason they don’t detect the problem in time, they would black out,” the official said.“If for any reason they don’t detect the problem in time, they would black out,” the official said.
Such a scenario has occurred before, perhaps most famously in the crash of a Cypriot passenger plane in 2005 that killed all 121 people on board as it approached Athens. In that case, Helios Airways Flight 522, a slow loss of pressure rendered both pilots and all the passengers on the Boeing 737 jet unconscious for close to three-quarters of an hour before the aircraft ran out of fuel and slammed into a wooded gorge near the Greek capital. Such a scenario has occurred before, perhaps most famously in the crash of a Cypriot passenger plane in 2005 that killed all 121 people on board as it approached Athens. In that case, Helios Airways Flight 522, a slow loss of pressure rendered both pilots and all the passengers on the Boeing 737 jet unconscious for more than three-quarters of an hour before the aircraft ran out of fuel and slammed into a wooded gorge near the Greek capital.
Investigators eventually determined that the primary cause of that crash was a series of human errors, including deficient maintenance checks on the ground and a failure by the pilots to heed emergency warning signals.Investigators eventually determined that the primary cause of that crash was a series of human errors, including deficient maintenance checks on the ground and a failure by the pilots to heed emergency warning signals.
Apart from pilot incapacitation, the French official also raised the uncomfortable possibility that the lack of communication could have been intentional.Apart from pilot incapacitation, the French official also raised the uncomfortable possibility that the lack of communication could have been intentional.
“So far, we don’t have any evidence that points clearly to a technical explanation,” the official said. “So we have to consider the possibility of deliberate human responsibility.”“So far, we don’t have any evidence that points clearly to a technical explanation,” the official said. “So we have to consider the possibility of deliberate human responsibility.”
If that were the case, this person said, then the cockpit voice recordings might not yield many useful clues.If that were the case, this person said, then the cockpit voice recordings might not yield many useful clues.
“I hope that we get some good information,” the official said. “But my fear is that we are going to find nothing, or very little. That there was nothing to record.”“I hope that we get some good information,” the official said. “But my fear is that we are going to find nothing, or very little. That there was nothing to record.”