Passenger plane crashes in French Alps

24 Mar 2015 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A plane carrying 142 passengers has crashed in the southern French Alps en route from Spain to Germany today.

The Airbus A320 was flying from Barcelona to Dusseldorf when it disappeared from radar in the Alpes de Hautes Provence at around 11am (10am GMT).

Debris from the jet, operated by Lufthansa's Germanwings budget airline, was found a French village close to Barcelonnette, according to the French Interior Ministry.

The local La Provence newspaper said the Airbus A320 was carrying 142 passengers, two pilots and four cabin crew, citing aviation officials.

Germanywings tweeted: 'We have recently become aware of media reports speculating on an incident though we still do not have any own confirmed information.'