Another Plane Crash - Airbus Over French Alps
- Thread starter SeaBreeze
- Start date
hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
Yes however it was reported that one of the officers, and they're not sure which one it was, knocked lightly then harder and harder in a panic, why didn't the other officer let him in is the question that will probably never be answered..
Yes, that's the question. Suicide, terrorist, heart attack? There won't be any more on the voice recorder unless the pilot was talking to himself on the way down.
Debby
Well-known Member
- Location
- East coast of Canada
I haven't read all of your posts so someone may have already mentioned it but I just read this on Huffington Post:
A newspaper is reporting that the voice recorder indicates that one of the pilots was locked out of the cockpit before a Germanwings jetliner plummeted into a remote Alpine mountainside.
The New York Times is citing an investigator it doesn't identify as saying that the audio shows that after an ordinary start to the flight, one of the pilots left the cockpit and could not get back in.
The investigator told the newspaper that the pilot began knocking quietly on the door, then became more insistent, saying that eventually: "You can hear he is trying to smash the door down.''
That could be interpreted as either a heart attack by whomever was in the cockpit and he was unable to open it or terrorism I guess. That must have been absolutely horrifying for the passengers who were watching this! This site also has some 'distant' photos of the crash site (no detailed or graphic images) but you can see how hard to get at the crash site is. Extreme mountainous terrain.
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/03/24/germanwings-crash-southern-france_n_6929996.html?utm_hp_ref=canada
A newspaper is reporting that the voice recorder indicates that one of the pilots was locked out of the cockpit before a Germanwings jetliner plummeted into a remote Alpine mountainside.
The New York Times is citing an investigator it doesn't identify as saying that the audio shows that after an ordinary start to the flight, one of the pilots left the cockpit and could not get back in.
The investigator told the newspaper that the pilot began knocking quietly on the door, then became more insistent, saying that eventually: "You can hear he is trying to smash the door down.''
That could be interpreted as either a heart attack by whomever was in the cockpit and he was unable to open it or terrorism I guess. That must have been absolutely horrifying for the passengers who were watching this! This site also has some 'distant' photos of the crash site (no detailed or graphic images) but you can see how hard to get at the crash site is. Extreme mountainous terrain.
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/03/24/germanwings-crash-southern-france_n_6929996.html?utm_hp_ref=canada
Debby
Well-known Member
- Location
- East coast of Canada
Thanks Ameriscot. It's just 6:00 AM here so I've been asleep or busy with the children while you've all been 'talking' here.
It is horrifying to think of their fear! Poor, poor people!
It is horrifying to think of their fear! Poor, poor people!
I'm out of sync with many here as well so it takes a while to catch up with what was posted while I was sleeping. Nearly 10am here. Our clocks go ahead this weekend.
Can't even imagine what it's like knowing the end is minutes away.
I find this report very unsettling. I hope what is being conveyed as a possible pilot suicide isn't so. Like I stated earlier, it seemed to be a controlled descent, so it was suspicious in nature. It may have been a heart attack, blood clot or other health issue. However, that doesn't answer the question as to why the other pilot could not open the door. The French and Germans will share their information after the investigation is complete. If this was an Italian airline and investigation, we may have never known the truth. They have a history of not being so forth-coming.
As for the keypads; the codes can be changed. But what bothers me the most is why was there only one pilot left alone in the cockpit? It is common knowledge that most airlines require two people in the cockpit at all times. When one of the pilots must leave the cockpit, normally, the Purser will take the empty seat. Heck, some foreign airlines use two doors with cameras. A very advanced system.
This will be interesting to hear the investigation findings.
As for the keypads; the codes can be changed. But what bothers me the most is why was there only one pilot left alone in the cockpit? It is common knowledge that most airlines require two people in the cockpit at all times. When one of the pilots must leave the cockpit, normally, the Purser will take the empty seat. Heck, some foreign airlines use two doors with cameras. A very advanced system.
This will be interesting to hear the investigation findings.
Could some one please tell me why it is that out of all the news reports I have read this morning, they have all quoted The New York Times and the anonymous official................I would much rather wait for the official reports from named investigators than put too much store by all this speculation.
Apparently on these smaller aircrafts only two people are in the cockpit.
According to the radio, when they reached altitude, the Pilot
had to go to the Bathroom, when he came back he couldn't
get back into the cockpit, the experts that checked the Black
Box, reported that they could hear breathing on the voice recorder,
so the co-pilot was alive during the descent and in control of the
plane.
Mike.
had to go to the Bathroom, when he came back he couldn't
get back into the cockpit, the experts that checked the Black
Box, reported that they could hear breathing on the voice recorder,
so the co-pilot was alive during the descent and in control of the
plane.
Mike.
WOW! This is horrible. I thought the initial report of the descent was normal and I started getting a creepy feeling that something wasn't right. I don't know why that airline did not require a F/A to go into the cockpit when the one pilot left. Every airline that I know requires at least two people in the cockpit at all times. When I flew and one of us left the cockpit, I always called the Purser to come in and sit in the empty seat. I am so saddened and sorry for those unfortunate passengers that were just looking forward to a nice flight.
Something in the industry will change because of this. Maybe it will now be a requirement to have at least two people in the cockpit, instead of "strongly suggested." Normally, when the FAA, the UK CAA or the French Aviation Authority makes a rule, other nations will follow.
Something in the industry will change because of this. Maybe it will now be a requirement to have at least two people in the cockpit, instead of "strongly suggested." Normally, when the FAA, the UK CAA or the French Aviation Authority makes a rule, other nations will follow.
Jackie22
Well-known Member
- Location
- Northeast Texas
This is beyond sad, the airlines will now be faced with having to screen for mental instability.
hollydolly
SF VIP
- Location
- London England
That is terrible news Ameriscot. 
Late last night before I turned off the radio, I heard them saying that the pilot was deliberately locked out by the co-pilot, and the handle on the door had to be positioned a certain way to do so. I thought right away that this was another act of real terrorism. My heart goes out to the families of all who so senselessly lost their lives, I can't imagine their grief.
Late last night before I turned off the radio, I heard them saying that the pilot was deliberately locked out by the co-pilot, and the handle on the door had to be positioned a certain way to do so. I thought right away that this was another act of real terrorism. My heart goes out to the families of all who so senselessly lost their lives, I can't imagine their grief.The U.S. airlines already do this.
I think all airlines do this. At the press conference the airline said he passed all the examinations and appeared to be a perfectly normal guy who loved to fly. People in the flight club he belonged to also said he seemed normal.
That is terrible news Ameriscot.
For it to be intentional and not an accident will fill the families with fury as well as their overwhelming grief.
Yes, they are saying on the news that this will most likely become a requirement now for all airlines.
QuickSilver
SF VIP
- Location
- Midwest
I've heard that most airlines do NOT allow a single person in the cockpit.. If a pilot has to use the restroom a flight attendant will join the co-pilot.. however, not sure what a flight attendant could have done. I also thought that cockpits had a keypad entry lock on the outside which would have allowed the pilot to get back in. Although I think that can be disabled manually from inside. Not sure...but Oldman can certainly tell us.
Apparently this airline did not require as well as some other airlines. This plane also had the keypad but the co-pilot managed to lock him out.