Germanwings

French investigating agency Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses pour la sécurité de l’aviation civile (BEA) has recommended tougher medical checks of pilots, following its final report of a Germanwings Airbus A-320 aircraft crash last year in the French Alps.

The recommendation came after BEA found the mental state of the German co-pilot, Andreas Lubitz, was not reported to employers.

Lubitz deliberately crashed his jet, killing all 150 people on board.

According to the final investigation report, doctors suggested Lubitz be treated in a psychiatric hospital two weeks before the tragedy.

Even in the past, Lubitz had been treated for depression and the investigation found that he had consulted several doctors in the weeks before the crash, which took place on 24 March.

However, the consulted doctors did not report authorities about Lubitz’s mental health, reports NBC News.

BEA investigation leader Arnaud Desjardin was quoted by Associated Press as saying: "Experts found that the symptoms (he was presenting at that time) could be compatible with a psychotic episode."

However, this information ‘was not delivered to Germanwings’, he added.

"In Germany and in France, doctors are very attached to this notion of medical secrecy, but I hope there will be some moves there."

The investigation said that since Lubitz did not inform anyone of his doctors’ warnings, his employers or the authorities were not in a position to stop him from flying.

BEA director Remi Jouty in a news conference said: "In Germany and in France, doctors are very attached to this notion of medical secrecy, but I hope there will be some moves there."

The agency had pushed the World Health Organization and European Commission to form rules, which compel doctors to report to the authorities when a patient’s health may impact the safety of public and if required this measure should be taken against the patient’s consent, reported Reuters.

Image: The Germanwings Airbus A320, which crashed on 24 March last year in the French Alps. Photo: courtesy of Sebastien Mortier via Wikipedia.