WAS it really necessary for the French and German air accident teams investigating the horrifying crash of the German Wings flight last Wednesday to announce that passengers had died terrified and screaming as they realised what was going to happen?

And was it necessary for the media to report the fact with such ghoulish relish - some of them with huge, banner headlines?

Releasing that information served absolutely no purpose - other than to deprive the grieving families and friends of the victims, especially the children who died, of the small crumb of comfort that the end came too suddenly for them to be aware of what was happening.

Cruel isn’t the word for it.

ROBERT READMAN,

Norwich Avenue West, Bournemouth