Crew members were on board that plane when it went down. The flight took off just after 10 00 a. M. Local time. Less than an hour into the flight the cockpit issued a distress call. According to an online flight tracker the plane descended 14,000 feet in 6 minutes. The french president Francois Hollande says no survivors are expected. Were following developments. Lets begin with Cnn Senior International correspondent Jim Bittermann. Jim, bring us up to date. Reporter carol, one of the things weve been watching is a visit that was previously planned here by the king of spain hao happened to be in town when all this took place this morning. The fact is 45 of the victims are believed to be spanish nationals. One of the things that he has done is in his remarks in sending out his condolences to all the families of the victims he mentioned there were german victims, spanish victims and turning turkish victims. The rescue efforts, if there is anyone to be rescued, is taking place right now i
Recovery of human remains, theyre working to figure out what happened to flight 9525. After all, what was reportedly found on that flight cockpit voice recorder, is stunning. Stunning new details this morning in the crash of Germanwings Flight 9525. According to media reports, one of the pilots was locked out of the cockpit. When the plane crashed into the side of this Mountain High in the french alps. All of the 150 people on board, including schoolaged children and two infants, presumed dead. The New York Times cite as senior military official involved in examining audio evidence from the cockpit voice recorder. This official says before the planes rapid descent, one of the pilots left the cockpit and was unable to get back in. The paper quotes this investigator as saying the guy outside is knocking lightly on the door and there is no answer. Then he hits the door stronger no answer. There is never an answer. He says you can hear he is trying to smash the door down. The chilling repo
Hello, im wolf blitzer reporting from washington. We start with new details on efforts by the u. S. To get u. S. Army sergeant, bowe bergdahl, back home. Bergdahl worked away from his base in gaenafghanistan back in9 and captured by the pentagon. Barbara starr is joining us now. Barbara, is the u. S. Actually offering a new prisoner swap for bergda bergdahl . Reporter wolf, i have to tell you, this is some of the most delicate information held by the administration at this point, obviously. A young soldiers fate is at stake here. What we do know here at cnn, there are new discussions with intermediate areas in the region. Most likely the qataris, to get in touch with the taliban and see what room there may be for discussions to get bergdahl back. In the past, the taliban have wanted the release of five prisoners being held at guantanamo bay. The u. S. Has not agreed to that in the past. Whether there is some new formulation to make that happen remains to be seen. But what we do know is
Sorry for deadly defects, Family Members of those who died demand more information. We want to welcome our viewers in the United States and around the world. At least five people are dead following a major earthquake off the coast of chile. It could be felt as far away as peru. Residents are told to stay away from coastal towns. Some saw tsunami waves higher than two meters, and after shocks have been reported. Chiles president appeared on television hours ago. Declared that a number of northern provinces are disaster areas. She had this message. I would like to make a call for the people who live in areas to keep calm. Follow the instructions of the local authorities and do everything that is necessary to ensure the security of themselves and their families. We have taken all the necessary steps to protect their lives, and the government will work as long as necessary to face this emergency and protect our compatriots. Several hours since the quake was reported. Tsunami warnings, have
Debris and remains still unsecured as rebels grow impatient with the international monitors. Now one country wants to send in remain anned forces. We want to welcome our viewers in the United States and around the world. Im wolf blitzer in jerusalem. Youre in the situation room. Were following this hours two breaking news stories in ukraine, the u. S. Believes russia is preparing to send heavy weapons across the border and tension is growing over International Access to the Malaysia Flight 17 crash site. Here in the middle east, reuters is now reporting that the israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told secretary of state john kerry israel would begin a 12hour pause in gaza hostilities starting tomorrow morning 27 a. M. Local time about seven hours or so from now coming after israels security cabinet unanimously rejected a proposed oneweek cease fire with hamas. A proposal put forward by the secretary of state john kerry. Meanwhile, deadly violence has spread to the west bank.