Andreas Lubitz was suffering a 'psychotic episode' during Germanwings suicide crash
- 8 years ago
French investigators on Sunday urged new rules for medical confidentiality related to pilots.
The recommendations came after it was revealed that a doctor referred Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz to a psychiatric hospital two weeks before he deliberately crashed a jet into the French Alps last year, killing 150 people.
An investigation by BEA, France's civil aviation authority, found that Lubitz had been treated for depression in the past and saw many doctors about this mental health, but because of regulations over medical nondisclosure none of them informed authorities.
Lubitz was using anti-depressants when he crashed the jet on March 24, 2015, BEA said.
Arnaud Desjardin, BEA's chief investigator, said “experts found that (Lubitz's mental health) symptoms could be compatible with a psychotic episode.”
However, that information was not passed on to Germanwings with the result that “no action could have been taken by the authorities or his employer to prevent him from flying.”
The recommendations came after it was revealed that a doctor referred Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz to a psychiatric hospital two weeks before he deliberately crashed a jet into the French Alps last year, killing 150 people.
An investigation by BEA, France's civil aviation authority, found that Lubitz had been treated for depression in the past and saw many doctors about this mental health, but because of regulations over medical nondisclosure none of them informed authorities.
Lubitz was using anti-depressants when he crashed the jet on March 24, 2015, BEA said.
Arnaud Desjardin, BEA's chief investigator, said “experts found that (Lubitz's mental health) symptoms could be compatible with a psychotic episode.”
However, that information was not passed on to Germanwings with the result that “no action could have been taken by the authorities or his employer to prevent him from flying.”