In an international press conference, a French prosecutor reported that the 28-year-old co-pilot of the crashed plane deliberately brought down the Germanwings flight.
The co-pilot, identified as Andreas Lubitz, had 630 hours of flight experience and had joined Germanwings in 2013, straight out of flight school.
The French prosecutor reported that the co-pilot “had a desire to destroy this plane.” Those listening to data from the black box said that they could clearly hear normal breathing from the co-pilot while the pilot desperately attempted to get back into the cockpit by pounding on the door and shouting, then communicating by intra-cabin communications. It is also reported that it was the co-pilot who deliberately pushed the button to bring the plane down.
DÜSSELDORF, Germany — A French prosecutor said Thursday that the co-pilot of the doomed Germanwing flight appeared to want to “destroy the plane,” in a stunning twist to the investigation that shifted attention to a possible suicide dive that killed all 150 people aboard.
The statement came after reports that the recovered cockpit voice recorder indicated the pilot was locked out of the cockpit before the A320 slammed into the French Alps on Tuesday.
The French prosecutor said flight recorder showed the co-pilot — identified in media reports as Andreas Lubitz — did not say a word once the captain left the cockpit, the Associated Press reported.
“It was absolute silence in the cockpit,” the prosecutor was quoted as saying.
The New York Times quoted an unidentified investigator Thursday as saying the audio depicts someone knocking with increasing urgency — and force — on the cockpit door. The Times quoted the source as saying: “And then he hits the door stronger and no answer. There is never an answer.”
More information is certainly needed from Germany. Friends, acquaintances and family of Lubitz will be interviewed. Some of them will be under surveillance as well. Computers and other electronics will be seized and gone over forensically, searching for clues into Lubitz’s behavior and rational.
What is terrorism? Does it just have to involve dark, swarthy middle easterners or Muslims? If deliberately crashing a plane of 150 passengers isn’t terrorism, then what is it? What would possess a young man to kill these innocent people?
Most of the modern world is speechless over this ruthless, senseless, insane behavior of a rogue pilot.
Hardening the cockpit doors was not the magic solution to preventing planes from becoming tools of terrorists.
I guess there is no perfect solution.
Sadly, a mother and daughter from Nokesville were on the flight. Why couldn’t this guy just killed himself and be done with it?
I would say that ‘terrorism’ is more about motivation (usually political and/or religious) than method. The passengers on this plane certainly were terrorized, but this wasn’t a ‘terrorist’ attack. At least so far, this appears to have been random, senseless violence.
“Terrorism” might not be the best word to describe political or religiously motivated violence, but that’s the word we use.
Except when the “terrorist” is already in one of the cockpit seats. Otherwise the system works pretty well. Airline pilots must be getting upset at how much the media is now revealing the details of the cockpit security features.
Good point, Wolve. That information really shouldn’t be out there.
The American standards are higher than the European standards. USA planes must have 2 people in the cockpit at all times. No potty breaks leaving one in charge.
I think most people are simply speechless over this horrible, senseless act of violence.
Yes, Furby. 2 of the Americans were from Nokesville. Thank you for mentioning this fact.