Plane Carrying 142 passengers crashed

A plane carrying 142 passengers and six crew members has crashed in the southern French Alps en route from Spain to Germany.

Of the passengers are 16 students, two German school teachers aboard crashed plane.

The Airbus A320 disappeared from radar in the Alpes de Hautes Provence after sending a distress signal at 10.47am local time (9.47am GMT).

Debris from the jet, operated by Lufthansa’s Germanwings budget airline, has been found scattered over a wide area near Barcelonnette.

French President, Francois Hollande, said that he did not expect there would be any survivors.

He said, “It’s a loss, a tragedy which has happened on our soil.

“I am seeking information about homes in the area it came down. It’s a difficult place to access. In the meantime, solidarity must prevail.”

The airliner plunged 31,200 feet in about 10 minutes, according to radar data, an indication that the twin engines might have failed within a few minutes apart.

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