Germanwings cancels seven flights as crews too upset to fly after tragic crash
SEVEN Germanwings flights from Dusseldorf have been cancelled because crew members felt they were unfit to fly after the stricken 4U9525 plane crash.
The boss of Lufthansa - which owns the low-cost airline - said he understood the crew members' feelings following the deadly crash.
"One must not forget: many of our Germanwings crews have known crew members who were onboard the crashed plane," Carsten Spohr said.
"It is now more important to ensure psychological assistance if needed. And we will get back to a full flight operation as soon as possible then. But for me, this is rather secondary now," he added.
GERMANWINGS FLIGHT 9525, REMEMBERED
Separately, at least 30 flights across Europe are thought to have been delayed or cancelled, according to local reports.
Long queues are said to be forming at Germanwings information desks.
In a statement earlier, Germanwings boss Thomas Winkelmann said:"Following the tragic accident on Tuesday, Germanwings reports occasional flight disruptions within its route network.
"This is due to crew members, who decided not to operate aircraft today following the reports on the accident of a Germanwings aircraft with 144 passengers and six crew members onboard.
Following the tragic accident on Tuesday, Germanwings reports occasional flight disruptions within its route network
"We understand their decision."
The cancelled Germanwings flights include: 18:25 from Dusseldorf to London Heathrow, 17:40 from Berlin Tegel to London Heathrow and 14:40 from Cologne to London Heathrow.
Sixteen schoolchildren, two teachers and two leading opera singers were believed to be among the dead along with two babies.
