Frances interior ministry released aerial footage of the site of a Germanwings crash in the French Alps on 24 March.

The footage, shot from a distance, shows a rocky ravine surrounded by snow-capped mountains, highlighting the challenge posed to rescue services by the remote terrain.

Germanwings confirmed earlier its flight 4U9525 from Barcelona to Dusseldorf went down with 144 passengers and six crew on board.

The airline believed there were 67 Germans on the flight. Spains deputy prime minister said 45 passengers had Spanish names. One Belgian was aboard.