First images from Germanwings A320 crash in French Alps

First images from Germanwings A320 crash in French Alps

An Airbus A320 with 142 passengers and six crew members has crashed in Digne region, southern France, media reports say. The jet, which belonged to Germanwings low-cost airline, was flying from Barcelona to Düsseldorf.

(Updated 14:45 GMT) Council official Gilbert Sauvan tells Les Echos newspaper, "The plane is disintegrated". He added that "the largest debris is the size of a car". French Prime Minister Manuel Valls says a helicopter has managed to land near where the plane crashed in the Alps, but found no survivors.

(Updated 14:28 GMT) According to Thomas Winkelmann, chief executive Germanwings, plane went into eight-minute descent before crashing. 67 Germans believed to have been on board, according to Germanwings.

(Updated 14:24 GMT) "We are uncertain as to whether a distress call was issued at all. We have no clear indication was to why the descent was initiated." - Germanwings spokesman reports at the press-conference.

(Updated 14:08 GMT) Germanwings CEO: FO had 10 years of experience, last regular aircraft check conducted yesterday. Contrary to earlier reports, the authorities in France now say that no distress call was made by pilots.

(Updated 13:21 GMT)  Alain Vidalies, the French transport minister: no rescue workers have yet reached the scene on foot; scattered bodies seen from helicopters.

(Updated 13:09 GMT) During the flight the Airbus was in contact with air control at Marseilles. The message was “mayday, mayday,mayday” and the pilot requested an emergency descent meaning ATC had to clear all air space below the route of the aircraft.

(Updated 13:03 GMT) The first photo shows the crash area, giving an idea of how inaccessible it is. Pierre-Henry Brandet, spokesperson for the interior ministry told the aircraft debris has been localised. The rescuers are being taken in by helicopter.

(Updated 12:51 GMT) Germanwings has confirmed on Facebook that there were 150 people on board, 144 passengers and six crew members. French President Francois Hollande: according to preliminary information, there were no French sitizens aboard Flight. 

(Updated 12:38 GMT) No adverse weather conditions were reported that could explain the crash, according to French media. The area is accessible only by helicopters. Germanwings, which began operating in 2002 has 15 active aircraft, according to the Planespotters website. The average age of its fleet, including other models, is 13.8 years.

(Updated 12:27 GMT) Germanwings has changed the colour of its logo on its Twitter and Facebook sites from red and yellow to grey and black. Barcelona airport has set up a room in Terminal 2 for family members, according to officials in Catalonia.

(Updated 12:20 GMT) The flight was on its flight path just under a half its route distance and at cruising speed. French transport ministry says there was an alarm call at 10:48 at 5000 feet. According to the French weather channel La Chaine Meteo, the weather was very calm at the moment of the crash. Spain’s airport operator, AENA, confirmed that there were 42 Spanish nationals on board.

(Updated 12:10 GMT) French authorities have said there were 42 Spaniards on board. Germanwings is due to hold a news conference at 14:00 GMT at Cologne-Bonn airport, French satellite channel BFMTV says.

The plane crash in the French Alps was confirmed by General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The jet crashed in the Upper Bléone Valley, Le Provence wrote. Emergency services are currently heading to the disaster zone. France’s Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve has confirmed the plane crash and is headed to the scene.

Germanwings opens a crisis line for people worried about loved ones on the flight: +49 30 5000 3000