Alain Vidalies, Minister of Transport, says that "several bodies" had been seen around the wreckage of the aircraft. Presumably this suggests an impact with limited forward speed. Europe 1 also reports that the aircraft is "almost entirely in one piece."
Vidalies : le survol "a permis de voir la carcasse de l'avion et quelques corps autour'" - Vidéo Dailymotion
https://twitter.com/Europe1/status/580330987235704832