Last evening, I watched the newest episode of the TV show, "Air Disasters" on the Smithsonian Channel. The show was a presentation of the airline crash, which occurred in the Alps in March of 2015. The cause of the crash was determined to be by pilot suicide. Shortly after takeoff, the First Officer (F/O) told the Captain that if he wished to use the lavatory, "This would be a good time." The Captain agreed and left the cockpit with only the F/O remaining on the flight deck. When the Captain returned from using the lavatory, he could not get back in through the cockpit door.
In the meantime, the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) who was watching the plane on radar noticed that the A320 has started a decent. The ATC made several attempts to contact the aircraft, but no one responded. Meanwhile, the Captain continued trying to gain entry to the flight deck, even by using the crash ax.
It was later determined that after the Captain left the cockpit, the F/O locked the door and set the Autopilot's altitude to 100 feet and changed the air speed to its fastest allowable speed by the Autopilot, (probably around 600 mph). The investigators of the accident also ascertained that that the F/O had suffered from severe (psychotic) depression and had lost his license to pilot. The F/O did travel to the U.S. for additional training and received his license and also passed his physical, which allowed him to again become gainfully employed as a pilot for an airline. He was then hired by Germanwings, which is owned by Lufthansa and is their low cost carrier. The investigators also learned that the F/O had been seen by 40 different doctors and not one of them contacted the airline to advise them of the F/O mental state. Supposedly, it is a law in Germany that doctors are not permitted to disclose any information about a pilot to anyone. If they do, they can be arrested and tried in a German court.
Shortly after, the Airbus crashed into the side of the Alps. Today, many (most) airlines require at least two people are in the cockpit while the plane is in the air. United has had this as a requirement for many years. If I had to leave the cockpit, I would have the Purser come into the cockpit and sit in my seat until I returned. In this accident, 144 passengers, plus six crew members lost their life. As I watched this show, I slowly found myself becoming ill. I really have a lot of questions that I know will never be answered.
Here is a recreation of events, using a Microsoft Simulator.
In the meantime, the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) who was watching the plane on radar noticed that the A320 has started a decent. The ATC made several attempts to contact the aircraft, but no one responded. Meanwhile, the Captain continued trying to gain entry to the flight deck, even by using the crash ax.
It was later determined that after the Captain left the cockpit, the F/O locked the door and set the Autopilot's altitude to 100 feet and changed the air speed to its fastest allowable speed by the Autopilot, (probably around 600 mph). The investigators of the accident also ascertained that that the F/O had suffered from severe (psychotic) depression and had lost his license to pilot. The F/O did travel to the U.S. for additional training and received his license and also passed his physical, which allowed him to again become gainfully employed as a pilot for an airline. He was then hired by Germanwings, which is owned by Lufthansa and is their low cost carrier. The investigators also learned that the F/O had been seen by 40 different doctors and not one of them contacted the airline to advise them of the F/O mental state. Supposedly, it is a law in Germany that doctors are not permitted to disclose any information about a pilot to anyone. If they do, they can be arrested and tried in a German court.
Shortly after, the Airbus crashed into the side of the Alps. Today, many (most) airlines require at least two people are in the cockpit while the plane is in the air. United has had this as a requirement for many years. If I had to leave the cockpit, I would have the Purser come into the cockpit and sit in my seat until I returned. In this accident, 144 passengers, plus six crew members lost their life. As I watched this show, I slowly found myself becoming ill. I really have a lot of questions that I know will never be answered.
Here is a recreation of events, using a Microsoft Simulator.
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