Germanwings A320 crashes in French Alps

An Airbus A320 has crashed in the French Alps near Digne. The Germanwings aircraft D-AIPX flight 4U 9525 took off from Barcelona at 09:00 UTC this morning. 

The French President Francis Hollande reported "The conditions of the accident, which have not yet been clarified, lead us to think there are no survivors."

The flight with 144 passenegers and 6 crew on board was due to land in Dusseldorf at 11:20. 30 minutes into the flight shortly after reaching it's cruising altitude of FL380 the aircraft began to descend at a rate of approximately 4000ft/m.



Officials have said the plane did not send out a distress signal. 

Search and rescue teams are on route to the crash site and a French Airforce C-135 has been circling the site.

Our thoughts and sympathy go out to the family and friends of the victims.