Germanwings plane crash: Pilots defend Andreas Lubitz saying investigators should not 'rush to conclusions'

Pilots around the world have reacted with consternation to the conclusion that Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz deliberately crashed the plane into the French Alps.

Investigators announced yesterday that evidence from the Airbus A320’s cockpit voice recorder suggested that the 27-year-old locked the captain out of the flight deck before setting the aircraft to descend and killing all 150 people on board.

Vereinigung Cockpit, known in English as the German Airline Pilots Association, said it was too quick to draw conclusions before the recovery of the second black box.

The flight data recorder contains detailed information about the plane’s operations and altitude to accompany audio from the cockpit.

Ilja Schulz, President of the association, said: “We should not rush to conclusions based upon limited data.

“The reasons that led to this tragic accident will only be determined after all data sources have been thoroughly examined.”

Airlines have already started to react to the tragedy by introducing a “two pilot rule”, already in place in the US, to ensure a second crew member is in the cockpit at all times.

The German Airline Pilots Association cautioned against “hastily” implementing the measures in the wake of the disaster, saying government agencies, airlines and pilots should work together to change procedures only after the investigation is completed.

James Phillips, international affairs director of the group, told Time magazine he had an “angry” reaction to the blaming of Mr Lubitz.

“It is a very, very incomplete picture,” he added. “I have the feeling that there was a search for a quick answer, rather than a good answer.”

The British Airline Pilots' Association (BALPA) has not commented on the preliminary findings but expressed support for the German pilot community and sympathy with the loved ones of the passengers, pilots and crew on board flight 4U 9525.

Chairman Brendan O’Neal said: “A meticulous investigation will establish exactly what has happened and help pilots do everything we can to ensure it does not happen again.”

More at: In America, the Air Line Pilots Association said it was “deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life” and sought to reassure air passengers in the US.

"In the United States, at least two crew members are required to be present in the cockpit at all times,” a spokesperson said.

"Airline pilots in the United States and Canada are subject to rigorous screening and evaluation prior to being hired, including an assessment of the pilot's mental and emotional state. Once hired, pilots are evaluated continuously.”

The association emphasised that “many factors” may have contributed to the crash and urged people not to speculate as the investigation continues.

Scrutiny has focused on Germanwings and Lufthansa’s hiring policies following yesterday’s announcement, amid reports that Mr Lubitz had received psychiatric treatment causing a long break in his flight training.


In view of the fact that the clinic who were treating him have said it was for a medical, not mental condition, I'd agree.

We won't know anything for sure until they extract the data from the flight recorder as that will show if he was controlling the aircraft.
The voice recorder picks up him breathing but was there any other noises like a sniff or a cough or sound of movement? Maybe he put the door lock on because he wasalone with the intention that he would unlock it when the pilot knocked on the door but he had a seizure or something like that. Highly unlikely but you never know.

Anyway, it's Friday and the Bingo will be finished by now so I'm off for a quick couple of pints.

Anyone want anything out the chippy?

Yea, bag of chips with salt and vinegar, just love the smell!

He had locked the door and altered the autopilot to descend. The airplane crashed as a result. Not much left to speculate over.

Not much to add to what Quill said!

Couldn't this be merged with the first thread? I don't get why people start more than one thread on the same subject.

In fact, there are now three threads about this.