http://www.avherald.com Wrote:A Germanwings Airbus A320-200, registration D-AIPX performing flight 4U-9525 from Barcelona,SP (Spain) to Dusseldorf (Germany) with 144 passengers and 6 crew, was enroute at FL380 about 30nm southeast of Marseille (France) when the aircraft initiated a rapid descent. Radar contact with the aircraft was lost at about 6800 feet at approx. 10:45L (09:45Z) about 12nm southwest of Barcelonnette (France), 75nm northwest of Marseille.

French Police reported two helicopter spotted the remains of the aircraft on the ground at about 2700 meters elevation (8800 feet) between Prads-Haute-Bleone and Barcelonnette (France), about half way between the two cities there is a mountain ridge rising up to 8900 feet.

The President of France reported, it does not appear there are any survivors. The crash site is very difficult to reach.

France's DGAC reported the crew transmitted an emergency call just prior to the aircraft disappearing from radar near Bassinet.

Germanwings and Lufthansa, parent company of Germanwings, confirmed flight 4U-9525 suffered an accident in the French Alps. There were 144 passengers and 6 crew on board. A hotline for family member was opened at Phone Number (Germany): 0800 11 33 55 77.

In a press conference about 4.5 hours after the aircraft disappeared from radar Germanwings reported 144 passengers, amongst them 2 babies, and 6 crew were on board. The aircraft reached its cruise level at 10:45L, one minute later the aircraft left cruise level and initiated a descent over 8 minutes. Radar contact was lost at 10:53L at about 6000 feet. The aircraft had been delivered by Airbus to Lufthansa in 1991 and had undergone all needed maintenance checks including a last check on Mar 23rd 2015, the last major maintenance check had been in Summer 2013. The captain had 6000 flight hours of experience. The airline received contradicting information from ATC France as to whether an emergency call had occurred.

France's Air Traffic Control reported there had been no emergency call from the aircraft.

Radar data suggest the aircraft had reached FL380 about 3 minutes prior to leaving FL380 and descended from FL380 through FL110 in 8 minutes (average rate of descent 3375 fpm). The aircraft appeared to have levelled off at FL068 for one minute while on a northeasterly heading of 26 degrees true, mountains rise up to 8900 feet about 1nm north of the last reported aircraft position.

Helicopter Base for Search and Recovery Teams (Photo: French Ministry of Defense):


Radar Track (Graphics: AVH/Google Earth):