Lufthansa Cancels 60th Anniversary Celebration in Aftermath of Germanwings Tragedy

Germany’s Lufthansa Group on Tuesday announced the cancellation of its 60-year anniversary celebration to respect the crash victims of flight 4U9525.

Lufthansa spokesman, Michael Lamberty announced the cancellation in a statement he issued in the commercial city of Frankfurt.

“Out of respect for the crash victims of flight 4U9525 Lufthansa is cancelling the originally planned festivities for the 60th anniversary of the company.

“It was planned for the April 15,’’ he said.

He said instead, the company confirmed it would offer live coverage of memorial service for the victims at the Cologne Cathedral on April 17.

Insurers of the carrier have set aside $300 million for possible costs around the Germanwings crash.

Lamberty said $300 million was the amount currently reserved to deal with all costs arising in connection with the case, including compensations for family members of the victims.

In a statement issued earlier, Lufthansa group conveyed the request from family and friends of the victims for media to show restraint in covering the accident.

“They asked Lufthansa and Germanwings to shield them from any questions coming from the media.

“It is their wish to not be disturbed and to remember the deceased in privacy,’’ it said

The Flight 4U9525 operated by Lufthansa’s Germanwings crashed last Tuesday in the southern French Alps while flying from Spain’s Barcelona to Germany’s Duesseldorf with150 people on board.