Crash of the Airbus Germanwings Facts and Data

Here are the data in our possession on Tuesday afternoon after the plane crash of the Germanwings airline in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence.

The plane

It was the flight 4U 9525. The Airbus was 24 years old. It belongs to the A320 family (A318, A319, A320, A321) aircraft featured the European manufacturer that has experienced ten accidents since entering service in 1988.

To date, 6,194 units of this family are in operation including A320 3663, according to data provided by the manufacturer.

Commissioned in 1988, the A320, used for short and medium distance flights, is a direct competitor of the Boeing 737. Its technology has been continually improved since its inception. There is now a remotorisée version says "A320neo Family" (new engine option), less greedy in kerosene.

The A320 revolutionary aircraft at its output with electric flight controls managed by computer, was divided at the time including the pilots in France where he brought drivers crews from three to two. His start had thus sparked controversy.

The road

"The 4U9525 flight followed the same path as that of the day before," said Flightradar24 on his Twitter account. Flightradar24, a site that appears in "real" time the positions of the aircraft in flight, reports that A32O Gardesa has speed, but plunged 18,000 feet in about 10 minutes.

Weather conditions

According to the Secretary of State for Transport, Alain Vidal, weather conditions were "not especially bad." Meteo France said they were very lenient at the time of the crash.

The airline

Germanwings is the low-cost subsidiary of the German group Lufthansa. It was created in 2002. states that it "was nominated in the best company category low cost to Air Transport News Awards, awards from the trade magazine Air Transport News".

The crash

According Matignon, the aircraft crashed on Meolans Revel town in the massive Three bishoprics, whose highest point is the Head of the Estrop.