Mother, Daughter From Nearby Va. Among Americans Killed In Plane Crash
NOKESVILLE, Va. (WJZ) -- A bombshell new report suggests the pilot on the Germanwings flight was locked out of the cockpit just before the plane went down.
But it still does not explain what caused the heart-wrenching crash that killed so many.
Rick Ritter has more on the American victims on board.
Everyone we've heard from who knew the mother and daughter says they were loving people admired by many.
In Virginia, the Selke family asked for privacy as they try and come to grips with this senseless tragedy.
Overseas, scattered debris across a portion of the French Alps. It's a devastating scene that hits home in the states, sending pain and sorrow through a small town in Virginia.
On Tuesday, the Germanwings flight heading from Barcelona to Germany lost radio contact with air traffic controllers before slamming into the French Alps, shredding the plane into pieces and killing all 150 people on board.
Investigators started analyzing voice recorders from one of the plane's black boxes.
Now, in a bizarre twist, The New York Times reports evidence from the recordings indicates one pilot left the cockpit during the flight, was unable to get back in, and was later heard trying to smash down the door.
On board the aircraft--mother and daughter Yvonne and Emily Selke. Their friends are in awe.
"You always see these things on the news and think it's horrible. But you never know anyone involved, you never know anyone. The chances of that are slim," a friend of Emily Selke said.
It was a somber scene Wednesday at the Selke's home in Nokesville, Virginia. Family and friends declined to comment, asking for privacy and prayers.
Emily graduated from Drexel University in Philadelphia with honors in 2013.
Her sorority there posted on Facebook, saying:
"Zeta chapter is mourning the loss of our beautiful alumni, Emily Selke. Emily and her mother were abroad the plane from Barcelona to Düsseldorf that crashed yesterday. Emily served as our membership VP while in Zeta and she was an integral part of our growing chapter. She embodied the spirit of Gamma Sigma Sigma. As a person and friend, Emily always put others before herself and cared deeply for all those in her life. Emily will be greatly missed by her fellow sisters of Zeta. Please keep Emily, her mother and their family in your thoughts and prayers during this heartbreaking time."
WJZ spoke with Prince William County schools, where Emily attended Woodbridge Senior High School. A spokesperson there says she was an accomplished student, who had a 4.0 GPA or better.
Her mother, Yvonne Selke, worked for Booz Allen Hamilton in Washington, D.C. as a government contractor.
The company released a statement, saying:
"Booz Allen and our employees are mourning the sudden and shocking death of Yvonne Selke, an employee of nearly 23 years, and her daughter, Emily, in the Germanwings airliner crash in the French Alps this week. Yvonne was a wonderful co-worker and a dedicated employee who spent her career with the firm supporting the mission of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. We are in contact with her family to provide comfort and support, and are providing support options to her co-workers, as well."
Yvonne's husband and Emily's father along with other family members released a written statement, saying:
"Our entire family is deeply saddened by the loss of Yvonne and Emily Selke, two wonderful, caring, amazing people who meant so much to so many. At this difficult time, we respectfully ask for privacy and prayers."
The State Department has not released the identity of the third American on board the plane.