Headlines
Germanwings co-pilot feared losing licence, investigators believe
Berlin, March 31
German investigators of the
Germanwings plane crash last week in the French Alps with 150 people on
board, are developing a hypothesis that co-pilot Andreas Lubitz crashed
the plane in desperation, fearing that he could lose his pilot's licence
due to a medical condition.
German daily newspaper Bild reported
on Tuesday, citing the statements of one of the case's investigators,
that the inquiry currently indicates that this was the "main reason" for
the crash, according to Efe news agency.
"The main reason for us
right now is that Lubitz was afraid of losing his flying licence
because of his poor health," said the investigator, who asked to remain
anonymous.
Lubitz would have had to renew his licence in June, according to various reports.
Bild
reported that the co-pilot, 27, was admitted at least three times to
Dusseldorf University Hospital between February and March of this year.
The
German federal prosecutor said on Monday that Lubitz had received
psychotherapy years before getting his flying licence for having
"suicidal tendencies".
However, Bild also said on Sunday that Lubitz was being treated for a possible retinal detachment.