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| Germanwings pilot referred to psychiatric clinic just before crash | Germanwings pilot referred to psychiatric clinic just before crash |
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| Andreas Lubitz, the pilot who flew a passenger jet into a French mountainside last year, killing all 150 people on board, was referred to a psychiatric clinic two weeks before the crash, a report has found. | Andreas Lubitz, the pilot who flew a passenger jet into a French mountainside last year, killing all 150 people on board, was referred to a psychiatric clinic two weeks before the crash, a report has found. |
| French air investigators, who unveiled their final 87-page dossier into the March 2015 tragedy on Sunday, said the German had shown “symptoms suggesting a psychotic depressive episode” in December 2014 and had seen several doctors in the weeks that followed. | French air investigators, who unveiled their final 87-page dossier into the March 2015 tragedy on Sunday, said the German had shown “symptoms suggesting a psychotic depressive episode” in December 2014 and had seen several doctors in the weeks that followed. |
| The French crash investigation agency, the Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses (BEA), revealed that a private doctor had recommended he be admitted to hospital. However, not one of the doctors Lubitz had visited alerted the 27-year-old pilot’s employer, Lufthansa. | The French crash investigation agency, the Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses (BEA), revealed that a private doctor had recommended he be admitted to hospital. However, not one of the doctors Lubitz had visited alerted the 27-year-old pilot’s employer, Lufthansa. |
| Investigators added that they had obtained detailed medical records about Lubitz in Germany suggesting he had seen 41 doctors in five years, seven of them in the month before the crash. The doctors who treated him refused to speak to the inquiry team, as did members of Lubitz’s family. | Investigators added that they had obtained detailed medical records about Lubitz in Germany suggesting he had seen 41 doctors in five years, seven of them in the month before the crash. The doctors who treated him refused to speak to the inquiry team, as did members of Lubitz’s family. |
| “It is likely that breaching medical confidentiality was perceived by these doctors as presenting more risks, in particular for themselves, than not reporting the co-pilot to authorities,” it stated. | “It is likely that breaching medical confidentiality was perceived by these doctors as presenting more risks, in particular for themselves, than not reporting the co-pilot to authorities,” it stated. |
| Investigators recommended more frequent medical evaluations for all pilots showing any kind of psychological or psychiatric problems, however minor. The BEA said the medical secrecy rules must protect the patient, but should also take into account public safety, and that there should be greater support for pilots suffering depression. | Investigators recommended more frequent medical evaluations for all pilots showing any kind of psychological or psychiatric problems, however minor. The BEA said the medical secrecy rules must protect the patient, but should also take into account public safety, and that there should be greater support for pilots suffering depression. |
| Related: The mystery of flight 9525: a locked door, a silent pilot and a secret history of illness | Related: The mystery of flight 9525: a locked door, a silent pilot and a secret history of illness |
| The report confirmed that Lubitz had deliberately set the Airbus A320’s autopilot to carry out a controlled descent over the French Alps where it ploughed into a mountain, after locking the flight captain out of the cockpit. | The report confirmed that Lubitz had deliberately set the Airbus A320’s autopilot to carry out a controlled descent over the French Alps where it ploughed into a mountain, after locking the flight captain out of the cockpit. |
| Flight recorder data showed that Lubitz was left alone at the controls of the Barcelona to Düsseldorf flight at 9.30am – 30 minutes after it had taken off. Half a minute later, Lubitz changed the altitude from a cruising height of 38,000ft to just 100ft and set the automatic pilot to descend. In the following seconds Lubitz changed the plane’s speed 10 times, according to the report. | Flight recorder data showed that Lubitz was left alone at the controls of the Barcelona to Düsseldorf flight at 9.30am – 30 minutes after it had taken off. Half a minute later, Lubitz changed the altitude from a cruising height of 38,000ft to just 100ft and set the automatic pilot to descend. In the following seconds Lubitz changed the plane’s speed 10 times, according to the report. |
| He failed to respond to repeated calls from both civilian and military air traffic controllers and the crew of another aircraft. | He failed to respond to repeated calls from both civilian and military air traffic controllers and the crew of another aircraft. |
| He also ignored increasingly frantic signals at the door and cabin calls, and requests to open the door. The final moments of the flight recorder suggest someone tried to break down the cockpit door. | He also ignored increasingly frantic signals at the door and cabin calls, and requests to open the door. The final moments of the flight recorder suggest someone tried to break down the cockpit door. |
| Flight data from the outbound flight to Barcelona earlier that morning suggested Lubitz had reduced the altitude from 35,000ft to 100ft for three seconds before returning it to the original setting. | Flight data from the outbound flight to Barcelona earlier that morning suggested Lubitz had reduced the altitude from 35,000ft to 100ft for three seconds before returning it to the original setting. |
| “Actions on the autopilot system during the first flight of the day may be interpreted as a rehearsal for suicide,” reported investigators. | “Actions on the autopilot system during the first flight of the day may be interpreted as a rehearsal for suicide,” reported investigators. |
| The BEA report stated that Lubitz’s professional level was judged to be “above standard” by his flight instructors and examiners. | The BEA report stated that Lubitz’s professional level was judged to be “above standard” by his flight instructors and examiners. |
| “None of the pilots or instructors interviewed during the investigation, who flew with him in the months preceding the accident, indicated any concern about his attitude or behaviour during flights.” | |
| Lubitz had been denied a medical certificate enabling him to fly in 2009 because of his depression and the medication he was taking to combat it. He was granted permission, with conditions, in July 2014, which was valid until August 2015. | Lubitz had been denied a medical certificate enabling him to fly in 2009 because of his depression and the medication he was taking to combat it. He was granted permission, with conditions, in July 2014, which was valid until August 2015. |
| The investigation revealed that Lubitz had begun suffering a “severe depressive episode without psychotic symptoms” in August 2008 and had made several “no suicide pacts” with his treating psychiatrist. | The investigation revealed that Lubitz had begun suffering a “severe depressive episode without psychotic symptoms” in August 2008 and had made several “no suicide pacts” with his treating psychiatrist. |
| In February 2015, a private doctor diagnosed Lubitz with “psychosomatic and anxiety disorders” and referred him to a psychotherapist and psychiatrist. | In February 2015, a private doctor diagnosed Lubitz with “psychosomatic and anxiety disorders” and referred him to a psychotherapist and psychiatrist. |
| On 9 March, another private doctor gave Lubitz a sick leave certificate. It was not forwarded to Germanwings. The following day, the first private doctor referred the pilot to a psychiatric hospital for treatment for a possible psychosis. The same doctor gave Lubitz a 19-day sick leave certificate on 12 March. It was not sent to Germanwings. | On 9 March, another private doctor gave Lubitz a sick leave certificate. It was not forwarded to Germanwings. The following day, the first private doctor referred the pilot to a psychiatric hospital for treatment for a possible psychosis. The same doctor gave Lubitz a 19-day sick leave certificate on 12 March. It was not sent to Germanwings. |
| The BEA’s report said “the limited medical and personal data available to the safety investigation did not make it possible for an unambiguous psychiatric diagnosis to be made. In particular an interview with the co-pilot’s relatives and his private physicians was impossible, as they exercised their right to refuse to be interviewed. | The BEA’s report said “the limited medical and personal data available to the safety investigation did not make it possible for an unambiguous psychiatric diagnosis to be made. In particular an interview with the co-pilot’s relatives and his private physicians was impossible, as they exercised their right to refuse to be interviewed. |
| “On the day of the accident, the pilot was still suffering from a psychiatric disorder, which was possibly a psychotic depressive episode and was taking psychotropic medication. This made him unfit to fly,” the BEA report states. It adds: “No action could have been taken by the authorities and/or his employer to prevent him from flying that day, because they were informed by neither the co-pilot himself, nor by anyone else, such as a physician, a colleague or family member.” | “On the day of the accident, the pilot was still suffering from a psychiatric disorder, which was possibly a psychotic depressive episode and was taking psychotropic medication. This made him unfit to fly,” the BEA report states. It adds: “No action could have been taken by the authorities and/or his employer to prevent him from flying that day, because they were informed by neither the co-pilot himself, nor by anyone else, such as a physician, a colleague or family member.” |
| Related: Andreas Lubitz: co-pilot of Germanwings flight 4U9525 - profile | Related: Andreas Lubitz: co-pilot of Germanwings flight 4U9525 - profile |
| Rémi Jouty, BEA director, said the report’s recommendations addressed weaknesses in the existing security measures, but that it was impossible to make them “100% watertight”. | Rémi Jouty, BEA director, said the report’s recommendations addressed weaknesses in the existing security measures, but that it was impossible to make them “100% watertight”. |
| Asked about possible modifications to the cockpit door to avoid a flight commander or pilot being locked out, Jouty added: “The concept of the door [security] is to protect the cockpit against intrusion from the cabin. We consider with the still-present terrorist threat we should not change that idea. | Asked about possible modifications to the cockpit door to avoid a flight commander or pilot being locked out, Jouty added: “The concept of the door [security] is to protect the cockpit against intrusion from the cabin. We consider with the still-present terrorist threat we should not change that idea. |
| “We cannot claim that all this will always stop a person wishing to commit suicide ... the history of air accidents has proven otherwise.” | “We cannot claim that all this will always stop a person wishing to commit suicide ... the history of air accidents has proven otherwise.” |
| The father of Paul Bramley, 28, one of three Britons to die in the crash, criticised Germanwings and its parent company Lufthansa for not keeping Lubitz out of the cockpit. | The father of Paul Bramley, 28, one of three Britons to die in the crash, criticised Germanwings and its parent company Lufthansa for not keeping Lubitz out of the cockpit. |
| “He was seen 41 times by different doctors. If they had said something my son and everyone on that flight would still be alive,” Philip Bramley, 60, told the Daily Mirror. “But it’s my view that the airline is at fault. They should be more diligent about who they employ and have more safeguards to stop people slipping through the net.” | “He was seen 41 times by different doctors. If they had said something my son and everyone on that flight would still be alive,” Philip Bramley, 60, told the Daily Mirror. “But it’s my view that the airline is at fault. They should be more diligent about who they employ and have more safeguards to stop people slipping through the net.” |
| Germanwings and Lufthansa strongly deny wrongdoing, saying Lubitz was certified to fly. | Germanwings and Lufthansa strongly deny wrongdoing, saying Lubitz was certified to fly. |
| In Bonn, Christof Wellens, a lawyer for some of the victims’ families, said the report did not answer relatives’ questions over “how it is possible that such an ill person gets a pilot’s license”. |