Germanwings Plane Crash: Co-Pilot "Wanted to destroy plane"

[Abyssal Echo]

The co-pilot of the Germanwings flight that crashed in the French Alps, named as Andreas Lubitz, appeared to want to "destroy the plane", officials said.
Marseille prosecutor Brice Robin, citing information from the "black Box" voice recorder, said the co-pilot was alone in the cockpit. He intentionally started a descent while the pilot was locked out.

http://bbc.com/news/world-europe-32063587

Latest updates: http://bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-32070570

[Gumleaf]

I think future aircraft designs should allow for a slightly bigger cockpit area and have a staff bathroom there for the pilots, so then there is no reason for there not to be at least 2 pilots flying the plane at any one time barring emergency situations. Also apparently in the US especially, it is airline policy that if a pilot wants a bathroom break, the head flight attendant goes into the cockpit for the duration so there are always 2 people in there. I think this sort of policy should be mandatory worldwide from now on. This is happening way too often.

[Malcolm Tucker]

I think future aircraft designs should allow for a slightly bigger cockpit area and have a staff bathroom there for the pilots, so then there is no reason for there not to be at least 2 pilots flying the plane at any one time barring emergency situations.

Unfortunately, never going to happen IMO. Taking the A320 for example, in that configuration, would either mean putting a lavatory where Row 1ABC is, which is the loss of three seats - loss of revenue. Or blocking off the toilet immediately behind the flight deck, leaving the one/two at the aft of the aircraft for all 170-odd passengers, which is both completely unreasonable, and possibly against regulations. I wish it were to happen, what you suggest, but if it means a loss in potential revenue, it's not going to happen.

Also apparently in the US especially, it is airline policy that if a pilot wants a bathroom break, the head flight attendant goes into the cockpit for the duration so there are always 2 people in there. I think this sort of policy should be mandatory worldwide from now on. This is happening way too often.

Being honest, I always assumed it was. Where I work, it's mandatory, one goes in to the flight deck before anyone else comes out. I was surprised that this happens in somewhere so safety conscious such as the LH Group, and indeed under EASA in general.

[City Kid]

Also apparently in the US especially, it is airline policy that if a pilot wants a bathroom break, the head flight attendant goes into the cockpit for the duration so there are always 2 people in there. I think this sort of policy should be mandatory worldwide from now on. This is happening way too often.

Being honest, I always assumed it was. Where I work, it's mandatory, one goes in to the flight deck before anyone else comes out. I was surprised that this happens in somewhere so safety conscious such as the LH Group, and indeed under EASA in general.

Right after the plane crash, literally every German airline added this to their policy. It's just so sad that something this terrible had to happen first...

[thatcountrykid]

Such a selfish prick. He didn't have the balls to do it to just himself. At least be man enough to not kill 149 others.

[Sugilite]

This is what happens when you let a mentally unstable person driving a plane. I honestly think it was not fully his fault. Lufthansa should have known better, he even stopped taking medication, the crash was almost was inevitable.

[Olly]

Such a selfish prick. He didn't have the balls to do it to just himself. At least be man enough to not kill 149 others.

Exactly what I came here to put, women and children died on that flight all because he couldn't do waht far too many people do every day. What an incredibly selfish coward

[Jthompson]

I don't get why they don't call it a murder. Cause that's what he ultimately did.

[tiffany1]

its soo sad. my hopes go out to all the families