German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her shock on Tuesday at the loss of an Air France plane over the Atlantic during a flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, according to dpa. "Like all people in Germany, I am shocked at the tragic aeroplane accident," Merkel said in a statement, adding, "It is a human catastrophe." The passenger list included 26 Germans, the highest number behind Brazilian and French travellers on board the plane that was carrying a total 228 passengers and crew. The German Foreign Office said Tuesday it was not yet able to confirm the figures. "We are all experiencing deep sorrow for the victims. Their relatives have our sympathy," the chancellor said. "We are thinking of them and wish them strength in these difficult times." Amongst the victims was a German family of five, consisting of both parents, their two adult daughters and one young grandchild, confirmed the mayor of their hometown in the state of Baden- Wuerttemberg. A senior manager of German engineering giant ThyssenKrupp was also on the plane, which lost contact with air traffic control Monday as it was flying through turbulent weather over the Atlantic. Erich W Heine, 41, a board member of the steel manufacturer's Brazilian joint venture, was reportedly due to fly on from Paris to Germany. Throughout Tuesday, German officials were checking the passenger names against rolls of residents kept in all German towns and villages. Merkel said she had no doubt that Brazil and France would do all they could to discover the cause of the disaster.
