Germanwings Flight Co-Pilot's Home Searched
German investigators searched two homes Friday linked to the Germanwings co-pilot accused of intentionally setting a plane on a fatal descent in the French Alps.
The crash of Germanwings Flight 9525, headed from Barcelona, Spain, to Dusseldorf, Germany, left 150 people dead.
During their search, authorities took several objects and papers that may be evidence that will reveal more information on why Andreas Lubitz “deliberately” flew the plane into the mountainside, German police said.
Authorities searched the Lubitz family home in Montabaur and his apartment in Dusseldorf
Objects taken will be examined, “which might lead to more information,” said Marcel Siebig of Dusseldorf police.
Marseille prosecutor Brice Robin, who is overseeing the criminal investigation into the crash in France, said the documents would be handed to French authorities.
Two French police officers are on their way to collect the evidence from German authorities, he said.
A day after Robin revealed that cockpit audio showed that Lubitz wanted to destroy the plane, many chilling questions remain unanswered.
Did he plan his actions? What drove the 27-year-old German national to do that?
Meanwhile some German media reports state that the man suspected of deliberately crashing a Germanwings A320 plane in the French Alps required treatment for depression.
Regular assessments were recommended in Andreas Lubitz’s official notes after a serious episode some years ago.
The Barcelona-Duesseldorf plane crashed on Tuesday, killing 150 people.
Data from the plane’s voice recorder suggest Mr Lubitz purposely started a descent as the pilot was locked out of the cockpit.
Several airlines have now pledged to change their rules to ensure at least two crew members are present in the cockpit at all times.
Police have searched two German properties used by Mr Lubitz, taking away boxes and a computer.
‘Heavily depressive’
When Mr Lubitz finished training in 2009, he was diagnosed with a serious depressive episode and went on to receive treatment for a year and a half, the German news site Bild reports.
Internal documents quoted by Bild and German broadcaster ARD say a note on Mr Lubitz’s aviation authority file recommended regular psychological assessment.
BBC/CNN