More than 140 persons are believed dead after a passenger plane flying from Barcelona, Spain to Dusseldorf, Germany crashed into a remote and mountainous area in the French alps.

The Guardian is reporting that Germanwings flight 4U 9525 crashed near the small mountain village of Barcelonette in the southern alps.

Although the situation is still fluid, the Airbus A320 issued a distress call around 10:47 a.m. local time saying the plane was “in an abnormal situation” according to the French transport ministry. The distress call, made by the pilot and received by air traffic control in Marseilles was simply “mayday, mayday, mayday”. The pilot then requested an emergency descent which meant that all aircraft would have to be cleared below the route of the aircraft.

After this call was made, the plane reportedly dropped form 38,000 feet to 7,000 feet in nine minutes.

The flight’s manifest is still being verified but the plane is believed to have been carrying 142 passengers and six crew members. Of that number, 45 are believed to have been Spanish nationals and 16 German schoolchildren were thought to have been on board. The nationalities of the other passengers is not yet known.

Gilles Gravier, president of Tourism in the Val d’Allos ski resort area, told the Guardian that he did not hear the crash when it occurred and could only confirm that emergency personnel were assembled and were trying to get into the area where the crash is believed to have occurred. However, the terrain is very remote and treacherous and difficult to navigate even for locals, which will make any operation in the vicinity extremely long and difficult.

“The aircraft debris has been localized, and we can only fear a heavy death toll,” said Pierre-Henry Brandet, a spokesman for the French interior ministry. “The first information from rescuers suggests that the number of survivors, if there are any, will be low, but until we have reached the site by land, we cannot say with any certitude. The rescuers are being taken in by helicopter.”

French president, François Hollande, said it was unlikely that anyone survived the crash.

Lufthansa Airline issued a statement saying that if their fears are confirmed, “this is a dark day for Lufthansa.”

In the meantime, a special room has been set up in Barcelona’s El Prat airport for family members and media.

Let us keep the victims and survivors in our prayers, as well as the safety of the rescuers who will be trying to access the crash site in very difficult and dangerous conditions.

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