Andreas Lubitz, the Germanwing copilot crashed the Airbus A320 in the French Alps, was suffering from severe clinical depression. Medical records from 2009 reveals previous episodes of Lubitz's severe depression. Lufthansa training school released statement following the crash that they know no reason as to why the 27 year old copilot would deliberately crash the plane, killing himself and everybody on board.
Co-Pilot suffers from Clinical Depression
Depression is a serious illness, one that should not be ignored, or to be trifled with. Lubitz had medical documents citing his mental instability, had medical records as evidence of medical maintenance for depression, anxiety disorders and panic attacks. One of the medicines was the tranquilizer Lorazepam. Clearly the 27-year-old was not stable. Dusseldorf prosecution office stated that the Germanwing copilot was in a long period of psychotherapeutic treatment and had noticeable suicidal tendencies prior to obtaining his pilot's license. The copilot had lied to doctors prior to the flight, stating he was on leave. If doctors were aware of his employment status, they would have denied the pilot their approval of him being fit to work. The knowledge perhaps struck fear in Lubitz that his clinical depression would eventually destroy his career.
Andreas Lubitz was described by his acquaintances from his hometown of Montabaur, Germany as a "normal guy" and a "nice young man". He was engaged in sports, liked music, had friends, and had a membership for a flight club. He was described as "a lot of fun, even though he was perhaps sometimes a bit quiet". Those that knew him were shocked and surprised as everbody else by the news of the crash.
Airline company to compensate
Lufthansa may be required to pay their compensation claims for the losses suffered by the victims of the crash. It also raises questions about their screening process for pilots in the face of the impending threat of legal action from the relatives of the 150 victims. No ties to terrorism were found linking to the demise of Airbus A320. A footage found in one of the mobile phones recovered from the crash site detailed the final moments before the crash. A banging of metal could be heard from the footage, indications of the other pilot trying to break through the heavy metal door of the cockpit which Lubitz had secured prior to crashing the plane. A mechanism that allows the cockpit door to be locked from the inside was a safety measure developed after the 9/11 attack on the United States.
Clinical depression is a mental illness that needs serious medical attention. In Lubitz's case, his friends and family were unaware that he was suffering. Authorities continue to investigate crash site in the French Alps as more evidence of the copilot's mental illness are uncovered. As the investigation progresses, airlines from all over the world have taken steps in changing safety standards in order to prevent these accidents from happening again.
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