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Germanwings co-pilot 'researched suicide methods in days before crash' Germanwings co-pilot 'researched suicide methods in days before crash'
(about 1 hour later)
The co-pilot of Germanwings flight 9525 appears to have researched suicide methods and cockpit door security in the days before he flew the plane into the French Alps, killing 150 people, German prosecutors have said. Andreas Lubitz, the co-pilot believed to have deliberately crashed Germanwings flight 9525, undertook online research into cockpit doors and suicide methods in the days leading up to the crash, Düsseldorf prosecutors said.
The development came as French prosecutors said the second black box from the plane has been found after a nine-day search. The development came as French prosecutors said the second black box from the plane had been found after a nine-day search. 150 people died in the crash.
Düsseldorf prosecutors said investigators found a tablet computer at co-pilot Andreas Lubitz’s apartment in Düsseldorf and were able to reconstruct his computer searches from 16 March to 23 March. In a statement released on Thursday, the German investigators said they had analysed a tablet computer found in the co-pilot’s flat.
“The browser history had not been deleted. Search terms called up … in the time from 16 March to 23 March 2015 could be reconstructed,” the statement read. “According to these, the user was on the one hand looking into medical treatments, and on the other learning about the different methods and possibilities of committing suicide.”
On at least one day, the statement added, Lubitz had spent several minutes entering search terms about cockpit doors and their security arrangements.
Prosecutors said the username, personal correspondence, and search terms found on the tablet all appeared to confirm that the device belonged to Lubitz.
They added that they would not be releasing the exact search terms used, and that the device was still being examined.
Related: 'Germanwings passenger video' is authentic, says French magazineRelated: 'Germanwings passenger video' is authentic, says French magazine
Based on information from the cockpit voice recorder, investigators believe the 27-year-old Lubitz locked his captain out of the A320’s cockpit on 24 March and deliberately crashed the plane, killing everyone on board.Based on information from the cockpit voice recorder, investigators believe the 27-year-old Lubitz locked his captain out of the A320’s cockpit on 24 March and deliberately crashed the plane, killing everyone on board.
Prosecutors’ spokesman Ralf Herrenbrueck said in a statement that Lubitz’s search terms included medical treatment and suicide methods. On at least one day, the co-pilot looked at search terms involving cockpit doors and their security methods.
“[He] concerned himself on one hand with medical treatment methods, on the other hand with types and ways of going about a suicide,” Herrenbrueck said. “In addition, on at least one day [Lubitz] concerned himself with search terms about cockpit doors and their security precautions.”
German prosecutors said personal correspondence and search terms on the tablet, whose browser memory had not been erased, “support the conclusion that the machine was used by the co-pilot in the relevant period”.
French prosecutors, meanwhile, said the second black box from the Germanwings jet – the data recorder that contains readings for nearly every instrument on the plane – had been found.French prosecutors, meanwhile, said the second black box from the Germanwings jet – the data recorder that contains readings for nearly every instrument on the plane – had been found.
Investigators were also examining cellphones found in the debris of the jet crash for clues about what happened. A French reporter who says he saw such cellphone video described the sound of “screaming and screaming” as the plane flew full-speed into a mountain.Investigators were also examining cellphones found in the debris of the jet crash for clues about what happened. A French reporter who says he saw such cellphone video described the sound of “screaming and screaming” as the plane flew full-speed into a mountain.
No video or audio from the cellphones of the 150 people on board the plane has been released publicly. On Thursday, Lieut Col Jean-Marc Menichini told the Associated Press that search teams had found cellphones but they had not yet been thoroughly examined.No video or audio from the cellphones of the 150 people on board the plane has been released publicly. On Thursday, Lieut Col Jean-Marc Menichini told the Associated Press that search teams had found cellphones but they had not yet been thoroughly examined.
Questions persist about journalist Frederic Helbert’s reports this week in the French magazine Paris-Match and in German tabloid Bild about the video that he says he saw. Helbert has vigorously defended his reports.Questions persist about journalist Frederic Helbert’s reports this week in the French magazine Paris-Match and in German tabloid Bild about the video that he says he saw. Helbert has vigorously defended his reports.
Mountain troops continued searching the area on Thursday for personal belongings and the second black box flight recorder.Mountain troops continued searching the area on Thursday for personal belongings and the second black box flight recorder.
Helbert said he viewed the video thanks to an intermediary close to the investigation, but did not have a copy himself. The publications chose not to release the video, he said, “because it had no value regarding the investigation but it could have been something terrible for families”.Helbert said he viewed the video thanks to an intermediary close to the investigation, but did not have a copy himself. The publications chose not to release the video, he said, “because it had no value regarding the investigation but it could have been something terrible for families”.
The video was shot from the back of the plane, he said. “You cannot see their faces, but you can hear them screaming and screaming.The video was shot from the back of the plane, he said. “You cannot see their faces, but you can hear them screaming and screaming.
No one is moving or getting up.What was awful, what is imprinted in my memory, is the sound.”No one is moving or getting up.What was awful, what is imprinted in my memory, is the sound.”
“People understand something terrible is going to happen,” he added.“People understand something terrible is going to happen,” he added.
Related: Germanwings co-pilot was treated for suicidal tendenciesRelated: Germanwings co-pilot was treated for suicidal tendencies
Germanwings, meanwhile, said on Thursday it was unaware that Lubitz had suffered from depression during his pilot training. German airline Lufthansa confirmed on Tuesday that it knew six years ago that Lubitz had suffered from an episode of “severe depression” before he finished his flight training.Germanwings, meanwhile, said on Thursday it was unaware that Lubitz had suffered from depression during his pilot training. German airline Lufthansa confirmed on Tuesday that it knew six years ago that Lubitz had suffered from an episode of “severe depression” before he finished his flight training.
“We didn’t know this,” said Vanessa Torres, a spokeswoman for Lufthansa subsidiary Germanwings, which hired Lubitz in September 2013. She could not explain why Germanwings was not aware of the depression when its parent company Lufthansa was.“We didn’t know this,” said Vanessa Torres, a spokeswoman for Lufthansa subsidiary Germanwings, which hired Lubitz in September 2013. She could not explain why Germanwings was not aware of the depression when its parent company Lufthansa was.
Germany also announced the creation of an expert task force to examine what went wrong in the Germanwings crash and consider whether changes are needed to cockpit doors or pilot procedures for passing medicals. It will also discuss the question of recognising psychological problems.Germany also announced the creation of an expert task force to examine what went wrong in the Germanwings crash and consider whether changes are needed to cockpit doors or pilot procedures for passing medicals. It will also discuss the question of recognising psychological problems.
Any conclusions will be shared with international air safety organisations. France’s air accident investigation agency has already said it will examine cockpit entry and psychological screening procedures.Any conclusions will be shared with international air safety organisations. France’s air accident investigation agency has already said it will examine cockpit entry and psychological screening procedures.