Germany’s Angela Merkel will travel on Wednesday to the site of a crash in France involving a Germanwings plane carrying 150 people, she said on Tuesday, calling it a shock which had plunged Germany, France and Spain into “deep mourning”.
“I will travel there tomorrow to get my own impression and to speak with local officials,” the chancellor told reporters.
The Airbus A320 carrying 150 people crashed in a remote area of the French Alps on Tuesday.
Germanwings flight 4U 9525, which was en route from Barcelona to Dusseldorf, went down at Meolans-Revels, near the popular ski resort of Pra Loup in south-east France, officials said.
In Madrid, Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy suspended his agenda to preside over an emergency government meeting about the crash, and also talked with Dr Merkel.
“Like everyone, I lament this incredibly sad and dramatic accident,” Mr Rajoy said.
German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said: “In these difficult hours, our thoughts are will all those who must fear that their relatives are among the passengers or crew.”
He added that his ministry had set up a crisis unit and is in close contact with French authorities.
British prime minister David Cameron’s official spokesman said the prime minister had been informed of the crash and “would wish to express how his thoughts are very much with the families and friends of all of those aboard”.
He added that the Foreign Office was making inquiries about whether any British nationals were on board, but had no information at this stage.
He said UK air accident investigators would offer any assistance requested by French or German authorities.
French ministers were on their way to the crash site.
Among them was environment minister Segolene Royal, who was in London for a meeting with the Prince of Wales, which she cancelled to head back to France.
Spain’s King Philip VI and Queen Letizia officially cancelled their state visit to France after they were told about the crash by Mr Valls.
It is thought the Germans on board were tourists who had been visiting Barcelona and Palma in Majorca. There were also reports that some Turks were on the flight.
UK weather experts said conditions in the area at the time of the crash were “nothing out of the ordinary”.
Agencies