Germanwings sets up Family Assistance Center in Marseille
Germanwings is currently setting up a family assistance center in Marseille. Staffing has begun and family briefings will start on Saturday, 28 March. “Our focus in these darkest hours is to provide psychological assistance to the families and friends of the victims of flight 4U9525,” said Thomas Winkelmann, spokesman for the Germanwings Executive Board. “The suffering and pain this catastrophe has caused is immeasurable. No words can express it and no amount of consolation is sufficient but we want to be there for visiting family members and friends if our support is desired.”
Germanwings and Lufthansa brought families and friends of the victims to Marseille with three special flights from Düsseldorf and Barcelona yesterday. They were then brought to Seyne-les-Alpes, near the accident site where they attended a memorial service. Simone Menne and Dr. Bettina Volkens, members of the Lufthansa Group Executive Board, traveled with the bereaved families and friends.
An additional flight from Barcelona is scheduled for today, 27 March. The bereaved relatives and friends currently in Marseille are welcome to choose to stay or return home. If they choose to return home they may return to Marseille at any time.
Germanwings has set up worldwide 24-hours telephone hotlines. Passengers’ relatives can call following numbers: 00800 11 33 55 77 (from Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Luxemburg), 900 838 450 (from Spain), 0800 014 8904 (from UK), 0 800 909 095 (from France) or +1 407 362 0632 (international, toll).