3/28/2015 Germanwings crash: Copilot Lubitz 'hid illness' BBC News http://www.bbc.com/news/worldeurope32087203 1/12 ADVERT 1 hour ago Europe Germanwings crash: Copilot Lubitz 'hid illness' Daniel Boettcher: "Sick note it appears was torn up and dated on the day of the accident" Alps crash copilot Andreas Lubitz hid the details of an existing illness from his employers, German prosecutors say. They said they had found tornup sick notes in his homes, including one covering the day of the crash. In their report, prosecutors in the city of Duesseldorf did not disclose the nature of Mr Lubitz's illness. German media have said internal aviation authority documents suggest he suffered News Sport Weather Shop Earth Travel More
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3/28/2015 Germanwings crash: Copilot Lubitz 'hid illness' BBC News
Prosecutors said there was no evidence of a political or religious motive for his actionsand no suicide note was found.
Mr Lubitz and 149 passengers and crew died when Germanwings flight 4U 9525 crashedin the French Alps on Tuesday.
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Data from the plane's voice recorder suggest Mr Lubitz purposely started an eightminutedescent into the mountains while the pilot was locked out of the cockpit.
In their statement (in German), the prosecutors said they had seized medical documentsfrom Mr Lubitz's two residences his Duesseldorf flat and his parents' home north ofFrankfurt which indicated an "existing illness and appropriate medical treatment".
What is depression?
Depression is more than just feeling a bit down for a few days. It is an illness which, at itsmost severe, can leave people feeling that life is no longer worth living. It can causephysical symptoms such as headaches, sleeplessness and constant tiredness which maylast for months and months.
People with depression can also feel anxious, irritable and agitated on a daily basis but itaffects everyone differently and only in rare cases is it a reason for violence againstothers.
If people admit their symptoms and talk to someone about their feelings, depression canusually be treated but the biggest barrier to getting help is often stigma and the fear ofdisclosing mental health problems.
More on depression
Headlines add to stigma for sufferers
The "fact that, among the documents found, there were sick notes tornup, current andfor the day of the crash leads to the provisional assessment that the deceased washiding his illness from his employer", the report states.
Germanwings, a subsidiary of Lufthansa, refused to comment on the new information, theAssociated Press news agency reports.
Worked as copilot, or first officer, from 2013. Appeared pleased with his job
Lived in town of Montabaur, near Frankfurt, with his parents. Kept a flat in Duesseldorf
Pilot training was interrupted for some months in 2009 when, German media report, hesuffered a depressive episode requiring treatment. He later passed all tests and wasdeemed fit to fly
Who was Andreas Lubitz?
'Nice, funny, sometimes quiet'
German media report that Mr Lubitz's notes say he suffered a serious depressive episodewhen he finished training in 2009.
He went on to receive treatment for a year and a half, Bild newspaper says.
Internal documents quoted by Bild and German broadcaster ARD say a note on MrLubitz's aviation authority file recommended regular psychological assessment.
Mr Lubitz's employers have confirmed his training was interrupted for several months sixyears ago, without explaining why.
Police have been coming and going at the home of Mr Lubitz's parents north of Frankfurt, which isalso a focus of media attention
In the hamlet of Le Vernet, a "viewing tent" was set up where families could look in the direction ofthe crash site. Families laid flowers and photographs in memory of those lost.
3/28/2015 Germanwings crash: Copilot Lubitz 'hid illness' BBC News
School students in Haltern, Germany, attended a memorial service for 16 students and twoteachers who died in the crash on their way home from a study exchange
Lufthansa chief Carsten Spohr has insisted Mr Lubitz was only able to resume trainingafter his suitability was "reestablished".
"He passed all the subsequent tests and checks with flying colours," Mr Spohr was quotedas saying.
Recovery efforts are continuing at the crash site on the third day following the crash.
DNA samples
Investigators continue to comb the crash site for body parts, debris and the second "blackbox", which records flight data.
Family members of some of the passengers and crew who died have visited SeynelesAlpes, near the crash site.
They were accompanied by psychologists, paramedics and Red Cross workers, and ayouth centre in the town was set up to receive them.
Families are providing DNA samples to allow for identification of victims' remains.
Many have now left the site but more relatives are expected over coming days, includingloved ones of a Colombian victim.
Other incidents thought to be caused by deliberate pilot action
29 November 2013: A flight between Mozambique and Angola crashed in Namibia,killing 33 people. Initial investigation results suggested the accident was deliberatelycarried out by the captain shortly after the first officer (also known as the copilot) hadleft the flight deck.
31 October 1999: An EgyptAir Boeing 767 went into a rapid descent 30 minutes aftertaking off from New York, killing 217 people. An investigation suggested that the crashwas caused deliberately by the relief first officer but the evidence was not conclusive.
19 December 1997: More than 100 people were killed when a Boeing 737 travellingfrom Indonesia to Singapore crashed. The pilot suffering from "multiple workrelateddifficulties" was suspected of switching off the flight recorders and intentionally puttingthe plane into a dive.
Source: Aviation Safety Network
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