On the U.S. news broadcast PBS Newshour this evening, video footage was aired showing the heads of state of France, Germany and Spain visiting the investigation scene (or the staging area, more accurately) and in a press event as well. I am wondering whether any veterans of observing events and happenings around prior airliner accidents in Europe recall any similar visitations by two or more heads of state. (Interest motivating this question is not political - is instead an interest, academically and professionally, in current safety monitoring and audit programmes of ICAO).
[Condolences to all sadly affected.]
I think that the motivation for this is most likely social media, in the modern age of 24-hour news, facebook, twitter and idiots - people feel like they have been forgotten if the head of state doesn't either make a personal comment or in this case attend. If for example Angela Merkel didn't attend the crash scene or comment on the accident and kept herself aside from the incident, political commentators and the public at large would disown her. It is (politically) the safest bet for them all to get as heavily involved and lead the public reaction to an incident.