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Report: Co-pilot on doomed flight had psychological treatments in past Prosecutor: Co-pilot on doomed flight hid psychological treatments
(about 2 hours later)
MONTABAUR, Germany — The co-pilot suspected of intentionally putting Germanwings Flight 9525 into a doomed dive had been treated for at least one “serious depressive episode” and later had to suspend flight training because of apparent psychological problems, a German newspaper reported Friday. MONTABAUR, Germany — The co-pilot suspected of intentionally crashing Germanwings Flight 9525 may have tried to hide his psychological troubles from the airline, including possibly tearing up a medical note about ongoing issues on the day of the accident, a German prosecutor said Friday.
The account by the Bild tabloid also cites security sources saying Andreas Lubitz has been in a “life crisis” that included troubles with his girlfriend. The conclusion — based on evidence removed from the apartment of Andreas Lubitz — added to growing suspicions that the 27-year-old pilot had a series of psychological treatments over the years as he moved up the ranks from flight attendant to the cockpit of an Airbus A320.
Ralf Herrenbrück, a senior prosecutor in Düsseldorf, said it appears Lubitz had “existing illness and medical treatment” and that had tried to conceal them from the airline and colleagues.
He said “torn-up, current sick notes were found, including from the day of the incident.” He gave no other details about the contents of the notes, but such notes in German are typically written by a medical professional to excuse their patients from work or other obligations.
Herrenbrück said the documents and other evidence “supports the assumption that the deceased had been hiding his illness from his employer and colleagues.”
But he added that none of the evidence recovered so far clearly points to specific motive.
“The measures did not result in the finding of a so-called suicide note or a written claim of responsibility,” he said. “Neither was any evidence found that the incident was politically or religiously motivated.”
[How the pilot was locked out of the cockpit]
The statement came after a German newspaper reported Lubitz had been treated for at least one “serious depressive episode” in the past and had to suspend his flight training because of psychological issues.
The account by Bild also cited security sources saying Lubitz has been in a “life crisis” that included troubles with his girlfriend.
The report drew no direct connection between Lubitz’s present psychological state and Tuesday’s apparently deliberate plunge into the French Alps that killed all 150 aboard.The report drew no direct connection between Lubitz’s present psychological state and Tuesday’s apparently deliberate plunge into the French Alps that killed all 150 aboard.
But it offered a possibly fuller portrait of the 27-year-old co-pilot as authorities grope for motives in a tragedy that has prompted some immediate reforms across the airline industry, including following the U.S. lead to require two people at all times in the cockpit. But the emerging details offered a possibly fuller portrait of Lubitz as authorities groped for reasons and the global airline industry moved rapidly with reforms, including some carriers following the U.S. lead to require two people at all times in the cockpit.
Bild reported that Lubitz received treatment six years ago for a “serious depressive episode” before he began commercial flight training. The report cited sources at Lufthansa, the parent airline of the budget carrier Germanwings. Bild reported that Lubitz received treatment six years ago for a “serious depressive episode” at the beginning of his training. The report cited sources at Lufthansa, the parent airline of the budget carrier Germanwings.
It also said Lubitz had slowed his flight training because of treatment for unspecified psychological issues and was temporarily deemed “unfit to fly” during instructions at Lufthansa’s aviation school outside Phoenix. It also said Lubitz had slowed his flight training because of treatment for unspecified psychological issues, and was temporarily deemed “unfit to fly” during instructions at Lufthansa’s aviation school outside Phoenix.
Lubitz’s personnel file contained a special code saying he needed to have “special regular medical examinations,” Bild added.Lubitz’s personnel file contained a special code saying he needed to have “special regular medical examinations,” Bild added.
The report following the stunning announcement by a French prosecutor Thursday that evidence from the cockpit flight records led to one horrific conclusion — that Lubitz barricaded himself in the cockpit and put the A320 onto an intentional collision course with rugged mountains in southern France. The report followed the stunning announcement by a French prosecutor Thursday that evidence from the cockpit flight recorder led to one horrific conclusion — that Lubitz barricaded himself at the controls and put the A320 onto an intentional collision course with rugged mountains in southern France.
There was no immediate comment from the Lufthansa group over the Bild report. But on Thursday, Lufthansa’s CEO, Carsten Spohr, described Lubitz as “100 percent fit to fly” when he took his seat on the Barcelona-to-Dusseldorf route. [The plane’s final moments, minute by minute]
At the same time, however, a chilling account of the flights final moments emerged from French prosecutors and officials at Lufthansa. The Lufthansa group did not immediately comment on the Bild report.
A Lufthansa spokesman confirmed Lubitz had a “training pause” yet later “passed his examination perfectly.”
“He had medical clearance” from Germany’s civil aviation agency, the spokesman said.
On Thursday, Lufthansa’s CEO, Carsten Spohr, described Lubitz as “100 percent fit to fly” when he took his seat on the Barcelona-to-Düsseldorf route.
In Düsseldorf, police guarded the entrance to Lubitz’s apartment on the end of a quiet suburban street called “The Witches’ Cottages.” A small palm tree rested on the balcony of Lubitz’s third-floor apartment. Next door, the German flag had been lowered to half-staff.
Investigators conducted a search Thursday and took away some items in two cardboard boxes and a sack, said the city’s police spokesman, Markus Niesczery. He gave no details on the objects removed.
In Montabaur, a town of 13,000 where Lubitz was raised, police also stood outside the family’s house — a two-story home with eyelid windows — as a German prosecutor and other officials searched the inside late Thursday. They carted off large blue plastic bags filled with evidence without speaking to reporters.
One official familiar with the investigation said authorities had not yet found anything that would suggest a suicide note, but the official cautioned that the forsensics were in the early stages. German and French officials said there were no indications Lubitz belonged to a terrorist organization.
[Could it happen again?]
At the same time, a chilling account of the flights final moments emerged from French prosecutors and officials at Lufthansa.
Almost 10 minutes before panicked screams echoed through the aisles as Flight 9525 plunged toward the mountains, Lubitz — who had worked up flight steward to co-pilot — was silent and alone in the cockpit.Almost 10 minutes before panicked screams echoed through the aisles as Flight 9525 plunged toward the mountains, Lubitz — who had worked up flight steward to co-pilot — was silent and alone in the cockpit.
The Airbus had cruised to 38,000 feet amid cheerful banter between Lubitz and his far more experienced pilot. But as the pilot shifted his attention to paperwork for landing the short-haul Germanwings flight from Barcelona to Düsseldorf, Lubitz grew less animated, offering brief responses. The Airbus had cruised to 38,000 feet amid cheerful banter between Lubitz and his far more experienced pilot. But as the pilot shifted his attention to paperwork for landing the short-haul Germanwings flight, Lubitz grew less animated, offering brief responses.
At 10:31 a.m. Tuesday, the pilot — named in the German media only as “Patrick S” — apparently heeded nature’s call, rustling out of his seat and exiting the cockpit, never to get back in.At 10:31 a.m. Tuesday, the pilot — named in the German media only as “Patrick S” — apparently heeded nature’s call, rustling out of his seat and exiting the cockpit, never to get back in.
Moments later, Lubitz, according to a French review of recovered flight data, took the A320 off autopilot and began a controlled descent that initially would not have seemed unusual to those aboard.Moments later, Lubitz, according to a French review of recovered flight data, took the A320 off autopilot and began a controlled descent that initially would not have seemed unusual to those aboard.
Then came the knocking — increasingly frantic — by the pilot as he sought to reenter the locked and reinforced cockpit door. In the final moments, the sounds of terrified passengers filled the plane even as Lubitz — audibly breathing as a bleeping alarm warned of imminent collision — kept quiet through the end.Then came the knocking — increasingly frantic — by the pilot as he sought to reenter the locked and reinforced cockpit door. In the final moments, the sounds of terrified passengers filled the plane even as Lubitz — audibly breathing as a bleeping alarm warned of imminent collision — kept quiet through the end.
[The plane’s final moments, minute by minute] [Watch: A grim tour of the wreckage ]
On Thursday, the tragedy turned from air disaster to criminal investigation as authorities in multiple nations scoured for clues to what could have compelled a man to hurl a packed commercial airliner into a mountain. Those who knew him, however, could not reconcile the reserved young pilot and avid runner who lived with his parents with the accounts of French prosecutor Brice Robin, who said that Lubitz’s actions appeared to be a deliberate attempt “to destroy the plane.”
As officials carted out boxes of belongings, including a laptop, from his family’s home in a ­middle-class neighborhood of this southwestern German town, questions centered on several months in 2009 when Lubitz took a leave from his pilot training.
Those who knew him, however, could not reconcile the reserved young pilot and avid runner who lived with his parents with the accounts of French prosecutor Brice Robin, who said Thursday that Lubitz’s actions appeared to be a deliberate attempt “to destroy the plane.”
The dramatic revelations from the black-box recordings, meanwhile, seemed to challenge a fundamental faith of flying — the sanity of the people at the controls. In the wake of Sept. 11, 2001, cockpit doors have been re­designed for strength to keep people out, but leaving planes vulnerable to a danger that instead lies within.
The possible scenario of a lone pilot willfully crashing a jetliner additionally highlighted the differences between airlines in the United States — which do not allow one person to remain alone in a cockpit — and European airlines, which do.
On Thursday, some of the biggest German airline companies — among them Lufthansa and Air Berlin — agreed to new regulations that would prohibit pilots from being left alone in the cockpit. The new regulation was set to be discussed Friday with Germany’s Federal Aviation Office.On Thursday, some of the biggest German airline companies — among them Lufthansa and Air Berlin — agreed to new regulations that would prohibit pilots from being left alone in the cockpit. The new regulation was set to be discussed Friday with Germany’s Federal Aviation Office.
[A look inside an Airbus A320] A longtime aficionado who dreamed of flying planes as a youth, Lubitz belonged to his local flight club and, after a stint as a cabin attendant, landed a coveted spot in Lufthansa’s pilot training program in 2008.
Saying that the French and the German investigations were suggesting that the airplane’s ­co-pilot deliberately crashed the plane, German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters in Berlin: “It goes beyond the imagination.” His time as a flight attendant earned him the nickname “Tomato Andi” at flight school, the newspaper Bild quoted colleagues.
Lufthansa said it could not disclose any details about the hiatus Lubitz took in 2009, citing German privacy laws protecting medical confidentiality. But if the company had been informed of any serious mental health issue, safety regulations should not have allowed him to continue training or remain in the air. Lubitz did his training, which can take 33 months, at company facilities in Bremen, Germany, and Arizona.
In Montabaur, a town of 13,000, police stood outside Lubitz’s house — a two-story home with eyelid windows — as a German prosecutor and other officials searched the inside. Later in the evening, they carted off large blue plastic bags filled with evidence without speaking to reporters.
One official familiar with the investigation said authorities had not yet found anything like a suicide note, but the official cautioned that the search had just begun. German and French officials said there were no indications Lubitz belonged to a terrorist organization.
At the same time, details of Lubitz’s life were gradually coming to light. A longtime aficionado who dreamed of flying planes as a youth, he belonged to his local flight club and, after a stint as a cabin attendant, landed a coveted spot in Lufthansa’s pilot training program in 2008. He did his training, which can take 33 months, at company facilities in Bremen, Germany, and Phoenix.
[The co-pilot’s path from a young aspiring aviator][The co-pilot’s path from a young aspiring aviator]
Lubitz was relatively new to the post of co-pilot at Germanwings, the budget arm of Lufthansa. He had been in the job for 18 months, logging 630 hours of flight experience — enough, authorities said, to safely manage the plane on his own. Lufthansa chief executive Carsten Spohr said Lubitz passed the company’s stringent physical and psychological tests. Lubitz was relatively new to the post of co-pilot at Germanwings, the budget arm of Lufthansa. He had been in the job for 18 months, logging 630 hours of flight experience — enough, authorities said, to safely manage the plane on his own. Lufthansa CEO Spohr said Lubitz passed the company’s stringent physical and psychological tests.
“We at Lufthansa are speechless,” Spohr told reporters. Birnbaum reported from Düsseldorf. Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report.
Neighbors here in Lubitz’s home town described him as a reserved but “sweet” man who enjoyed long runs through the local woods and had a winning smile. One neighbor who would not give his name said he had known Lubitz since he was a child and did not believe that the 27-year-old had been on a suicide mission. “I have my theories about what happened, but someone who would do something like that would not run through the woods to keep fit,” the neighbor said. How a pilot can be locked out of the cockpit Reasons for the two-in-cockpit rule
Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report. Reasons for the two-in-cockpit rule
Story goes here