Germanwings plane went down in French Alps within a mile of 1953 crash site

The Germanwings flight that crashed in the French Alps on Tuesday went down near the site of another plane crash from 62 years ago.

On Sept. 1, 1953, an Air France Lockheed L-749A Constellation crashed into the Mont Le Cimet in southeastern France near Barcelonnette.

The International Business Times says the crashes happened “freakishly close” to the one another, within a mile.

According to the Aviation Safety Network, the 1953 crash killed everyone onboard: 33 passengers and nine crew members. French violinist Jacques Thibaud was among the victims.

Investigators determined the cause of the crash to be controlled flight into terrain (CFIT), which is when a pilot in full control of the aircraft inadvertently flies it into an obstacle.

In this case, the plane initiated its descent for Nice but had flown off-course for unknown reasons. Pilots in CFIT crashes typically are oblivious to the danger of landscape ahead until it is too late.

The Air France tragedy occurred within a mile of spot where flight 4U 9525 fell from the sky this week, as several reports point out. Similarly, all 150 people aboard the A320 Airbus died: 144 passengers and six crew members.

Authorities on-site are searching for clues to the cause behind the eight-minute dive earlier this week.

Bernadette Meehan, a spokeswomen for the National Security Council, said the crash does not appear to be linked to terrorism.

“There is no indication of a nexus to terrorism at this time,” Meehan said.

As more information about the recent crash comes into light, people are expressing their condolences and prayers for the victims and their families via social media.

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