'No survivors expected': Germany-bound jet carrying 148 crashes in French Alps

An Airbus A320 plane has crashed this morning in the southern French Alps, security sources said. The plane was believed to be carrying 142 passengers, two pilots and four crew members. French search and rescue teams are already en route to the site, and police helicopters report seeing wreckage. The plane was traveling from Barcelona to Dusseldorf. French rescue have reported spotting the wreckage in the Alps after the plane disappeared from radar at around 11 a.m. GMT. The plane belonged to Germanwings, an affiliate of German airline Lufthansa, traveling between Barcelona and Dusseldorf.

No survivors are expected in this plane crash.

French president Francois Hollande

The plane issued an emergency “7700” squawk to air traffic control before descending from 38,000 feet to 6,925 feet within nine minutes, and then disappeared from radar. Germanwings is the budget affiliate of Lufthansa. Lufthansa Chief Executive Carsten Spohr said it would be a “dark day” for the German flagship airline if fears of a deadly crash were confirmed, according to Lufthansa’s Twitter feed.

My deepest sympathy goes to the families and friends of our passengers and crew…If our fears are confirmed, this is a dark day for Lufthansa.

Tweet from Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr

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