3 Britons in Germanwings crash, Foreign Secretary confirms

2015/03/25
French firefighters and rescue members gather outside the gymnasium where relatives and officials are due to pay tribute to the victims of the Airbus A320 crash, in Seyne-les-Alpes, March 25, 2015 (Reuters / Eric Gaillard)

The plane carrying 150 people crashed on its way from Barcelona to Dusseldorf on Tuesday.


Sixty-seven of the passengers are believed to be German, and more than 40 are believed to be Spanish. There were also citizens from Australia, Japan, Colombia, Turkey, Denmark, the Netherlands and Belgium onboard.


Among the German casualties were 16 school pupils returning from an exchange trip.


It was confirmed Tuesday that a UK resident of Spanish origin and her infant son were on board the Germanwings flight.


READ MORE: Airbus A320 plane crash in Southern France LIVE UPDATES


Marina Bandres Lopez-Belio and her son Julian were UK residents, originally from Jaca in Spain, living in Manchester, northern England.


Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said Tuesday evening it was “sadly likely” that some British nationals were on board the flight. The UK government was awaiting further passenger details, he said.


The death of Lopez-Belio was announced by Mayor Victor Barrio, of her Spanish hometown, who said she was on the flight with her baby son Julian.


She boarded the flight after being unable to find a direct route to Manchester. She had been in Barcelona for her uncle’s funeral, the Manchester Evening News reported.


READ MORE: Germanwings A320 black box found in French Alps


Her husband did not travel with Lopez-Belio, instead remaining in Manchester.


Jaca's mayor, Victor Barrio, spoke to her family after learning of the tragedy.


“I knew Marina well and I'm deeply affected by her death. She was a very well-known person in Jaca.


“It's a terrible blow, I'm absolutely speechless. She came from an exceptional family who are going to suffer a lot with a terrible loss like this,” he said.


Officials say there were no survivors of the crash.


Authorities are hoping the black box, discovered Tuesday, would be able to provide information on the causes of the accident.


French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said although the black box was damaged, it would still yield useful details.


British FM Hammond said Tuesday evening: “This is a tragic incident for those involved and their families. I send my deepest condolences to those who have lost family or friends.”


He also said UK Air Accident Investigation Branch and UK Disaster Victim Identification experts were on standby to aid the French authorities should they require assistance.


The three British citizens on board the plane have not yet been named.


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