germanwings

Germanwings Pilot Told Lufthansa of His Depression in 2009

Lubitz Photo: Getty Images

Andreas Lubitz, the co-pilot who authorities believe purposely crashed a Germanwings jet into the Alps, had a documented history of depression, according to the New York Times. After taking a brief leave from flight school, Lubitz informed Lufthansa of his history with the illness when attempting to rejoin the school in 2009. The FAA allows pilots with depression to fly, as long as they’re taking medicine and have been stable for at least six months. Now’s probably also a good time to point out that murder-suicides among depressed people are very rare, and pilot suicides even rarer.

Lufthansa Knew of Germanwings Pilot’s Depression