Airbus A320 crashed in Southern France
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Italian Military Jet
An Italian military Jet, MM7168 was squawking 7700, literally a couple of minutes before the Airbus came down in the same area.
Pure speculation obviously, but I suspect 7168 was the source of the Airbus distress alert.
Pure speculation obviously, but I suspect 7168 was the source of the Airbus distress alert.
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very experienced captain prev from LH 10000hrs with 6000 on type
a/c joined GW in 2001 from LH
No distress call from crew cannot be confirmed - contradictory and conflicting reports
source germanwings ceo press conf CGN
a/c joined GW in 2001 from LH
No distress call from crew cannot be confirmed - contradictory and conflicting reports
source germanwings ceo press conf CGN
Last edited by rog747; 24th Mar 2015 at 14:10. Reason: emerg call
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GWI press conference: aircraft was one minute at cruise level before it descended, descend duration was eight minutes. Last routine check of the aircraft was last night in DUS by lufthansa maintenance (24 hour check), last C check was in summer 2013.
The captain was flying for more than 10 years for lufthansa and germanwings, over 6000 hours experience on type.
The captain was flying for more than 10 years for lufthansa and germanwings, over 6000 hours experience on type.
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There are a number of sites on the internet that instantly 'hear' a 7700 and put out messages to subscribers. None have done so today for this flight..
Last edited by strake; 24th Mar 2015 at 14:31. Reason: Edited to clarify that no 7700 has been broadcast for the incident aircraft.
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More from the press conference
Germanwings chief pilot, asked about the A321 iced sensors incident that was making headlines here lately (see thread "Iced AoA sensors send A321 into deep dive"): The sensors in question had been replaced with newer models in the A320 that crashed.
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This is going to be one very hard SAR mission, the terrain overthere is extreme rough, with almost no roads going in, and at this moment of the year lots and lots of snow.
This is going to be one very hard SAR mission, the terrain overthere is extreme rough
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Press Conference had no real news - just a holding statement really - promised they'd get back when they knew something solid.
Main priority is handling the famillies right now
Main priority is handling the famillies right now
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From the BC:
Suggests that at least one engine was running.
Michel Suhubiette, a mountain guide based in Digne, tells French newspaper La Provence: "We heard a plane passing at a very low altitude but we didn't see it and it was strange as there's not a route that flies at that altitude there," he said.
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The FR24 alert went out at a similar time. The miltary aircraft was just north of Trieste though. I saw the alert this morning. Could very well have been coincidence though. Could have very well confused this squawk with the Airbus.
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According to Sky News a few moments ago, everybody's worst fears realised, ie. Initial heli overflight of the crash site has revealed no survivors
.
What might lead us to suspect an inflight catastrophic event would be the fact that there was no mayday call in well over 10 mins of (fairly) rapid descent. Further, there appears not to have been any deviation in heading which seems pretty inconceivable had the crew been conscious and trying to fly the aircraft.
Grim indeed...

What might lead us to suspect an inflight catastrophic event would be the fact that there was no mayday call in well over 10 mins of (fairly) rapid descent. Further, there appears not to have been any deviation in heading which seems pretty inconceivable had the crew been conscious and trying to fly the aircraft.
Grim indeed...