This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/26/world/europe/germanwings-passengers.html

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Portraits of Passengers Killed in Jet Crash Emerge Portraits of Passengers Killed in Jet Crash Emerge
(about 1 hour later)
BARCELONA, Spain — Outside the Liceu opera house in Barcelona on Wednesday, staff members gathered at noon for two minutes of silence to honor two singers who had recently performed there.BARCELONA, Spain — Outside the Liceu opera house in Barcelona on Wednesday, staff members gathered at noon for two minutes of silence to honor two singers who had recently performed there.
The singers — Oleg Bryjak, a bass baritone, and Maria Radner, a contralto, who had spent about a month and a half in Barcelona rehearsing and then performing Wagner’s “Siegfried” — were among the 150 people believed to have died on Tuesday when a Germanwings jet en route from Barcelona to Düsseldorf, Germany, crashed in the French Alps.The singers — Oleg Bryjak, a bass baritone, and Maria Radner, a contralto, who had spent about a month and a half in Barcelona rehearsing and then performing Wagner’s “Siegfried” — were among the 150 people believed to have died on Tuesday when a Germanwings jet en route from Barcelona to Düsseldorf, Germany, crashed in the French Alps.
“When you are in an opera, it means working very hard and a lot together, so you become a mini-family,” said Christina Scheppelmann, artistic and production director of the Liceu. “These were not only great singers but also wonderful colleagues.”“When you are in an opera, it means working very hard and a lot together, so you become a mini-family,” said Christina Scheppelmann, artistic and production director of the Liceu. “These were not only great singers but also wonderful colleagues.”
As the two singers were mourned in Barcelona, details about other passengers, from at least 15 countries, began to emerge on Wednesday. The dead included a couple who had just married three days earlier, an Australian hoping to start teaching English in France, the wife of a prominent Catalan politician and a film editor from Britain headed to a family funeral in Germany.As the two singers were mourned in Barcelona, details about other passengers, from at least 15 countries, began to emerge on Wednesday. The dead included a couple who had just married three days earlier, an Australian hoping to start teaching English in France, the wife of a prominent Catalan politician and a film editor from Britain headed to a family funeral in Germany.
Thomas Winkelmann, the managing director of Germanwings, a Lufthansa subsidiary, confirmed that as of 11 a.m., the families of 123 victims — including 72 Germans, 35 Spaniards and two Americans — had been notified. Citizens of Australia, Argentina, Iran, Venezuela, Britain, the Netherlands, Colombia, Mexico, Japan, Denmark, Belgium and Israel were also on board.Thomas Winkelmann, the managing director of Germanwings, a Lufthansa subsidiary, confirmed that as of 11 a.m., the families of 123 victims — including 72 Germans, 35 Spaniards and two Americans — had been notified. Citizens of Australia, Argentina, Iran, Venezuela, Britain, the Netherlands, Colombia, Mexico, Japan, Denmark, Belgium and Israel were also on board.
Jen Psaki, the State Department spokeswoman, confirmed the deaths of two Americans and said officials were reviewing records to determine whether other Americans had been onboard. In a statement, she said the department was not releasing the names of the two passengers. Jen Psaki, the State Department spokeswoman, said in a statement that three Americans had been killed, Reuters reported.
Two Spanish employees of Delphi, an American automotive company, and at least one employee of Bayer, the German chemical company, were among the passengers, according to Spanish news reports. She identified two of them as Yvonne Selke, 58, of Nokesville, Va., and her daughter, Emily Selke, 22. In a statement given to The Washington Post, Raymond Selke, Ms. Selke’s husband, said: “Our entire family is deeply saddened by the losses of Yvonne and Emily Selke. Two wonderful, caring, amazing people who meant so much to so many.”
Ms. Selke was an employee of Booz Allen Hamilton in Washington for nearly 23 years, according to a company statement. “Yvonne was a wonderful co-worker and a dedicated employee who spent her career with the firm supporting the mission of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency,” said the statement, released by Betty Thompson, an executive vice president. Ms. Psaki did not identify the third American.
Mr. Bryjak, 54, a native of Kazakhstan, had been a member of Deutsche Oper am Rhein, a German opera house, since the 1996-97 season. “We have lost Oleg Bryjak, a great artist and a great man,” the opera house’s general director, Christoph Meyer, said in a statement. “We are stunned.” The baritone sang at the prestigious Bayreuth Festival last year and was expected to perform there again in August.Mr. Bryjak, 54, a native of Kazakhstan, had been a member of Deutsche Oper am Rhein, a German opera house, since the 1996-97 season. “We have lost Oleg Bryjak, a great artist and a great man,” the opera house’s general director, Christoph Meyer, said in a statement. “We are stunned.” The baritone sang at the prestigious Bayreuth Festival last year and was expected to perform there again in August.
Ms. Radner, a rising star of Wagnerian opera, made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in “Götterdämmerung” in January 2012, and at La Scala in Milan in “Die Frau Ohne Schatten” in March 2012. She had been expected to perform at Bayreuth this summer, according to a biography on her management company’s website.Ms. Radner, a rising star of Wagnerian opera, made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in “Götterdämmerung” in January 2012, and at La Scala in Milan in “Die Frau Ohne Schatten” in March 2012. She had been expected to perform at Bayreuth this summer, according to a biography on her management company’s website.
Ms. Radner, who was traveling with her husband and baby, was “one of the few contralto voices that we now have,” Ms. Scheppelmann said.Ms. Radner, who was traveling with her husband and baby, was “one of the few contralto voices that we now have,” Ms. Scheppelmann said.
The victims included a class of 16 German high school students returning from a study program near Barcelona, along with their two teachers. German authorities have not yet released the names of the victims, but the Valencia soccer club issued a statement offering condolences and identifying one of the teachers as Sonja Cercek, a devoted fan of the club. A woman with that name was listed on the German school’s website as a teacher of Spanish.The victims included a class of 16 German high school students returning from a study program near Barcelona, along with their two teachers. German authorities have not yet released the names of the victims, but the Valencia soccer club issued a statement offering condolences and identifying one of the teachers as Sonja Cercek, a devoted fan of the club. A woman with that name was listed on the German school’s website as a teacher of Spanish.
Ariadna Falguera, the wife of a politician active in the Catalonian campaign to secede from Spain, was also a passenger, according to Esquerra Republicana, a party leading the movement. Her husband, Lluís Juncá, is a high-ranking member of the party. Ms. Falguera worked for a fashion company and was traveling to Germany for business.Ariadna Falguera, the wife of a politician active in the Catalonian campaign to secede from Spain, was also a passenger, according to Esquerra Republicana, a party leading the movement. Her husband, Lluís Juncá, is a high-ranking member of the party. Ms. Falguera worked for a fashion company and was traveling to Germany for business.
A Spaniard, Asmae Ouahhoud el-Allaoui, 23, was moving to Düsseldorf to live with her Moroccan husband, whom she had just married on Saturday, according to Juan José Maestre, a town hall official at La Llagosta, outside Barcelona. Her husband was also on the flight but his name has not been disclosed.A Spaniard, Asmae Ouahhoud el-Allaoui, 23, was moving to Düsseldorf to live with her Moroccan husband, whom she had just married on Saturday, according to Juan José Maestre, a town hall official at La Llagosta, outside Barcelona. Her husband was also on the flight but his name has not been disclosed.
Another person from La Llagosta, Francisco Javier Goñalons, 42, was on the flight, according to the town hall.Another person from La Llagosta, Francisco Javier Goñalons, 42, was on the flight, according to the town hall.
Marina Bandrés López-Belío, a Spanish citizen living in Manchester, England, was killed in the crash, along with her 7-month-old son, Julian Pracz-Bandres, according to a statement from her husband, Pawel Pracz. Ms. Bandres, an editor and colorist working in post-production for film and video, was traveling to Germany for an uncle’s funeral and had bought her plane tickets at the last moment, Mr. Pracz said.Marina Bandrés López-Belío, a Spanish citizen living in Manchester, England, was killed in the crash, along with her 7-month-old son, Julian Pracz-Bandres, according to a statement from her husband, Pawel Pracz. Ms. Bandres, an editor and colorist working in post-production for film and video, was traveling to Germany for an uncle’s funeral and had bought her plane tickets at the last moment, Mr. Pracz said.
Another Briton on the plane, Paul Andrew Bramley, 28, of Hull, England, had just finished his first year at César Ritz College in Lucerne, Switzerland, studying hospitality and hotel management, his family said in a statement. He was spending time with friends in Barcelona before beginning an internship on April 1. His mother, Carol Bramley, said, “He was the best son, he was my world.”Another Briton on the plane, Paul Andrew Bramley, 28, of Hull, England, had just finished his first year at César Ritz College in Lucerne, Switzerland, studying hospitality and hotel management, his family said in a statement. He was spending time with friends in Barcelona before beginning an internship on April 1. His mother, Carol Bramley, said, “He was the best son, he was my world.”
Two Australians were aboard the flight. They were identified on Wednesday by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop as Carol Friday, a 68-year-old registered nurse, and her son Greig Friday, 29, a mechanical engineer, both from the state of Victoria. Mr. Friday had hoped to soon start teaching English in France, and the two were spending a few weeks together in Europe beforehand, their family said in a statement. “They were both extraordinary and exceptional people,” the statement said.Two Australians were aboard the flight. They were identified on Wednesday by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop as Carol Friday, a 68-year-old registered nurse, and her son Greig Friday, 29, a mechanical engineer, both from the state of Victoria. Mr. Friday had hoped to soon start teaching English in France, and the two were spending a few weeks together in Europe beforehand, their family said in a statement. “They were both extraordinary and exceptional people,” the statement said.
In Tokyo, the foreign ministry identified the two Japanese passengers onboard as Satoshi Nagata, a man in his 60s, and Junichi Sato, a man in his 40s. Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga, said the men’s families had not given the government permission to release more information about them.In Tokyo, the foreign ministry identified the two Japanese passengers onboard as Satoshi Nagata, a man in his 60s, and Junichi Sato, a man in his 40s. Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga, said the men’s families had not given the government permission to release more information about them.
Two Colombians were killed in the crash, that country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. María del Pilar Tejada, 33, was studying economics in Germany and was returning from a visit to see her husband in Barcelona, according to Colombian news reports. Luis Eduardo Medrano, 36, had worked in Equatorial Guinea as an architect since 2009, according to a statement from Fundación Universitaria de Popayán, the Colombian university he attended.Two Colombians were killed in the crash, that country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. María del Pilar Tejada, 33, was studying economics in Germany and was returning from a visit to see her husband in Barcelona, according to Colombian news reports. Luis Eduardo Medrano, 36, had worked in Equatorial Guinea as an architect since 2009, according to a statement from Fundación Universitaria de Popayán, the Colombian university he attended.
At least one victim was from Belgium, the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Twitter, but it released no names. Mexico said as many as three of its citizens might have been aboard, but it cautioned that the information had not been confirmed.At least one victim was from Belgium, the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Twitter, but it released no names. Mexico said as many as three of its citizens might have been aboard, but it cautioned that the information had not been confirmed.
Two Spanish employees of Delphi, an American automotive company, and at least one employee of Bayer, the German chemical company, were among the passengers, according to Spanish news reports.
Mr. Winkelmann said there would be two special flights Thursday, one from Düsseldorf and another from Barcelona, to take relatives to the area where the crash occurred.Mr. Winkelmann said there would be two special flights Thursday, one from Düsseldorf and another from Barcelona, to take relatives to the area where the crash occurred.
He and Carsten Spohr, the chief executive of Lufthansa, plan to fly to Düsseldorf and then on to Barcelona to speak with relatives of victims.He and Carsten Spohr, the chief executive of Lufthansa, plan to fly to Düsseldorf and then on to Barcelona to speak with relatives of victims.
“The individual care for each relative left behind is our top priority,” he said.“The individual care for each relative left behind is our top priority,” he said.