Flightrader24 did analysis of the planes descent, info
here:
He set it to 96 feet, probably because 0000 couldn’t be set
Just a real tragedy
Interesting... the pilot input altitude in the transponder data is only available with Enhanced Surveillance Mode S (EHS)... as far as I know the enhanced surveillance (EHS) Mode S transponders are not mandated for new aircraft in EU until the end of this year, and older aircraft until 2017. Looks like Lufthansa is ahead of schedule even on its budget fleet. Amazing that they would pay up front for a marginal improvement in safety but fail to screen their pilots sufficiently. Would hate to be the air traffic controller in that situation (assuming they were equipped to receive this info.. not sure if all EU ATC facilities have been upgraded to receive the EHS data yet). Must be the most helpless feeling in the world to see an aircraft deviate from a clearance, become non responsive over the radio and see the pilot-input altitude as 100ft. If that controller had the EHS info, he/she knew exactly what was happening.