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THE CAPTAIN OF a passenger jet that investigators believe was deliberately crashed into the French Alps, killing all 150 aboard, shouted at the co-pilot to “open the damn door” as he desperately tried to get back into the locked cockpit, a German newspaper reported.
French officials say the plane’s black box voice recorder indicates that Andreas Lubitz, 27, locked the captain out of the cockpit of the Germanwings jet and steered Flight 4U 9525 into a mountainside.
They believe that the more senior pilot, identified by Germany’s Bild newspaper as Patrick S, tried desperately to reopen the door during the Barcelona to Duesseldorf flight’s eight-minute descent after he left to use the toilet.
The mass-circulation’s Sunday edition reported that data from the cockpit recorder showed the captain shouted: “For God’s sake, open the door”, as passengers’ screams could be heard in the background.
It said “loud metallic blows” against the cockpit door could then be heard, before another warning alarm went off and then the pilot is heard to scream to a silent Lubitz in the cockpit “open the damn door”.
Bild said that earlier on in Tuesday’s flight the captain was heard explaining to his colleague that he had not had time to go to the toilet before take-off.
As investigators seek to build up a picture of Lubitz and any possible motives, media reports have emerged that he suffered from eye problems, adding to earlier reports he was severely depressed.
German prosecutors believe Lubitz hid an illness from his airline but have not specified the ailment, and said he had apparently been written off sick on the day the Airbus crashed.
‘Sight problem’
The Sunday edition of Germany’s Bild tabloid and the New York Times, which cited two officials with knowledge of the investigation, said Lubitz had sought treatment for problems with his sight.
It is thought to be a retinal detachment, the German weekly said.
It also reported that Lubitz’s girlfriend with whom he lived in the western city of Duesseldorf was believed to be pregnant.
It gave no sources but said the teacher, who taught maths and English, had told pupils a few weeks ago she was expecting a baby.
Bild’s Saturday edition had published an interview with a flight attendant who it said had had a relationship last year with Lubitz and recalled him saying: “One day I’m going to do something that will change the whole system, and everyone will know my name and remember.”
If Lubitz did deliberately crash the plane, it was “because he understood that because of his health problems, his big dream of a job at Lufthansa, of a job as captain and as a long-haul pilot was practically impossible”, the woman told Bild.
German prosecutors revealed Friday that searches of Lubitz’s homes netted “medical documents that suggest an existing illness and appropriate medical treatment”, including “torn-up and current sick leave notes, among them one covering the day of the crash”.
Police have found a number “of medicines for the treatment of psychological illness” during a search at his Duesseldorf home, Welt am Sonntag newspaper said.
It added that the Germanwings co-pilot was suffering from being overstressed and was severely depressive, according to personal notes found.
Search for second black box
French police investigator Jean-Pierre Michel told AFP yesterday that Lubitz’s personality was a “serious lead” in the inquiry but not the only one.
The investigation has so far not turned up a “particular element” in the co-pilot’s life which could explain his alleged action, he said.
Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr has said that Lubitz had suspended his pilot training, which began in 2008, “for a certain period”, before restarting and qualifying for the Airbus A320 in 2013.
The second-in-command had passed all psychological tests required for training, Spohr told reporters.
Germany is to hold a national memorial ceremony on April 17 for the victims of the disaster, half of whom were German, with Spain accounting for at least 50 and the remainder composed of more than a dozen other nationalities.
Meanwhile, helicopters resumed search operations at the crash zone in southeastern France for a sixth day early yesterday, an AFP reporter saw, as efforts to comb the area for the victims’ remains and a second black box continue.
“There’s no reason not to find the second black box,” French investigator Xavier Vialenc told AFP yesterday.
- © AFP 2015.
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That man was a true legend. A real movie star who ate up the screen. Made a number of movies in Ireland and was never less than a real talent. Never really hit the heights but he was still cool enough to do a turn for Tarantino in Inglorious B*stards a couple of years ago. Could have watched him in anything.
I’d say the time machine would be one of his best performances when he has to face the morlocks. When I was a child they frightened the life out of me and gave me terrible nightmares. I look at the film now and laugh at how badly they look.
I had nightmares for years about the Morlocks.
‘The Time Machine’ was my own favourite.
Remember when He was on the late late show with Oliver Reed, & Gay Byrne goaded the two of them into arm wrestling on the studio floor….??
ps. Rod Taylor won.
The Late Late was mighty back then …. most of the guests were piddled !
Yeah, – like the night Oliver Reed was trying to get the leg over Susan George.
Thanks for the memories. And he was sooooo handsome to boot.
Morlocks!
Was great in the movie ‘Hotel’ as well..and in the ‘VIP’s'… old school actor who did it as it should be done.
He opened waterford city shopping centre with gay Byrne in the mid to late 70′s…remember thinking as a child ooh that’s the guy from bobcats which was shown on rte.obviously shooting one of his irish movies at the time.loved him in time machine another where he played a mercinary fighting in the Belgian Congo.
The Mercenaries, that and the Time Machine were his best movies
Great movie.
I used to love watching him in “Bearcats” years ago, what a show.
For me ” The Birds” from his movies and “Bearcats ” from his tv series.
A great old-style actor who never quite achieved the success and accolades he deserved. The Time Machine is one of my favourite films head and shoulders above the more recent remake.
The Time Machine is a movie ill always watch when its on telly, he was excellent in it. Don’t know why that descendant of H.G Wells had such a problem with it, probably more loyal to the book than his noughties version was
Sad news
Birds is it ?
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