Germanwings co-pilot was treated for suicidal tendencies

[Surya Gayatri]

Source: The Guardian

German prosecutors have said the co-pilot of the Germanwings plane that crashed in the French Alps had received treatment for suicidal tendencies.

Officials in Düsseldorf said Andreas Lubitz had psychotherapy “with a note about suicidal tendencies” for several years before becoming a pilot.

Ralf Herrenbrück, a spokesman, said on Monday that investigators have found no indication of a motive explaining why Lubitz crashed the plane, nor any sign of a physical illness. All 150 people on board died in the crash.

Lubitz, who is from the small German town of Montabaur, had a history of depression which he hid from his employer and colleagues, prosecutors have previously said. They retrieved a torn-up sicknote from his flat in Düsseldorf, which was dated for the day of the disaster.

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/30/germanwings-co-pilot-andreas-lubitz-treated-suicidal-tendencies

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http://www.dw.de/germanwings-co-pilot-treated-for-suicidal-tendencies/a-18349888
Germanwings co-pilot treated for 'suicidal tendencies'

Corroboration from a German site...

[uppityperson]

1. Thank you for both articles. Treated yrs ago for that, NOT recently according to this report

But the prosecutor also noted the suicidal symptoms had not been recorded during subsequent treatment, which appears to have lasted until shortly before last week’s crash. “In the following time and until recently there were further doctors’ visits and sick notes, without suicidal tendencies or aggression towards others attested,” the statement said.
(clip)

But, underlining that no claim of responsibility had been found, Herrenbrück remained carefully reluctant to interpret the evidence. “Please understand that the state prosecutor cannot and will not speculate on the motives of the deceased co-pilot,” he said. “Investigative authorities are obliged to adhere to the facts alone.”

“No circumstances have been found in his direct personal or family circles or at his workplace that offer solid indications of a possible motive,” he added.....

[Surya Gayatri]

2. You're welcome, UP. Some have said I'm 'beating this

story to death with a stick' (and I quote), but here in Europe it's at the top of every news cycle and 'above-the-fold' in every paper. Especially in the countries directly affected, i.e. France, Germany and Spain.

Whatever the prosecutor's ultimate judgment, Andreas is beginning to appear as a troubled young man with no business at the controls of a commerical plane.

[uppityperson]

9. My concern is as usual the first reports are misreported and construed inaccurately

I hope they find a reason why he did this, but also want acknowledgement that the majority of people who have been or are being treated for depression or suicidal thoughts would never ever ever do something like this.

Like after 9/11, people want to know why and often it takes time and sometimes the why is never known.

[Surya Gayatri]

10. So true...

"Like after 9/11, people want to know why and often it takes time and sometimes the why is never known."

I also fear for those who will be needlessly stigmatized, as many pilots already feel they are.

Pilots are volunteering personal details to planes full of passengers: that they are 'happily married with families...', etc.

Obviously, the need to reassure the travelling public has been taken on-board (no pun intended!)

[uppityperson]

11. I prefer articles like this one, with "may" and the such. Accuracy vs speed in news.

And yes I see it is taken from NYT but I can't access nyt.
http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/eyesight-may-have-threatened-germanwings-pilots-career/

Eyesight may have threatened Germanwings pilot’s career

Andreas Lubitz, who was flying the Germanwings jetliner that slammed into a mountain in the French Alps on Tuesday, sought treatment for vision problems that may have jeopardized his ability to continue working as a pilot, two officials with knowledge of the investigation said Saturday.

The revelation of the possible trouble with his eyes added a new element to the emerging portrait of the 27-year-old German, who the authorities say was also being treated for psychological problems and had hidden aspects of his medical condition from his employer. The police found antidepressants during a search of his Duesseldorf apartment Thursday, an official said Saturday.

(clip)

The Duesseldorf University Hospital said Friday that Lubitz had been evaluated at its clinic in February and on March 10. Reached by phone Saturday, a spokeswoman would not comment on whether he had sought treatment for vision problems, citing patient-privacy laws. The hospital has an eye clinic. On Friday the hospital denied Lubitz had sought treatment for depression there.

[Surya Gayatri]

12. Quite guarded and careful wording, indeed...lots of 'mights, mays and could haves'...

I can't access the NYT either, and have used the usual 'serious' sources I rely on here in Europe, mostly the BBC, France 24 and The Guardian.

Have never used the Seattle Times. It's not on my 'news radar', so to speak.

[asiliveandbreathe]

3. I am becoming such a skeptic...just for a moment -

Considering how quickly this story of suicide and troubled mental state of this person who was a co-pilot of an airplane (how utterly devastating on so many levels), appeared across the world...is there more that we will never know? The TRUE reason for this tragedy?

Are Corporatists digging in for some nefarious reason? - To protect their sorry ass? We always find out years down the road, when tragedy such as this strikes, that the original story was a tail wagging the dog story....IMHO -

Me thinks - we will never know in our lifetime.....

[Surya Gayatri]

4. Well, we can only hope that the suits at Lufthansa cannot

corrupt or influence unduly the French and German prosecutors.

Lufthansa's lawyers are certainly working overtime to find a way out of this corporate debacle.

But, let's hope that that doesn't extend to 'pot-de-vin' (bribery) of investigating officials.

[jtuck004]

5. Still no evidence, just bigots beating up on a working pilot. Pathetic. n/t

[Surya Gayatri]

6. You have a reply to your allegation of 'baseless, fascist-like propaganda' here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141052906#post12

[jtuck004]

7. Don't think there is a good enough excuse for beating up on defenseless people.

You have fun, though.

[Surya Gayatri]

8. I do find the evolving story to be of interest, yes.

Having 'fun'? Not so much...

[jtuck004]

13. "story" - posts of unsubstantiated rumor masquerading as evidence. Got it. Bye. n/t

[Surya Gayatri]

14. A plus, as the French say...