Germanwings Flight 9525

[Marnoot]

Haven't seen a thread on this yet. Seems pretty clear at this point the co-pilot intentionally brought the plane down.

I've read that in the US that when a member of the flight deck crew goes to the bathroom that a flight attendant will take his/her place in the cockpit, specifically to help avoid situations like this. Anyone know if that's not the case in Europe?

[makattak]

I was rather surprised no one had started this discussion yet.

My first instinct was SOJS (sudden onset jihad syndrome) when I heard he was 24. That's about the right age for that.

However, it made no sense just taking it into the ground in that situation. A fanatic would have aimed for a building as well. Makes me think Islam is not involved.

[wmenorr67]

Paging A320!!!  Please pick up the white courtesy phone.

[Nick1911]

I've read that in the US that when a member of the flight deck crew goes to the bathroom that a flight attendant will take his/her place in the cockpit, specifically to help avoid situations like this. Anyone know if that's not the case in Europe?

A news article I read said that European regulations don't require this, and neither does the airline.

[AJ Dual]

I was rather surprised no one had started this discussion yet.

My first instinct was SOJS (sudden onset jihad syndrome) when I heard he was 24. That's about the right age for that.

However, it made no sense just taking it into the ground in that situation. A fanatic would have aimed for a building as well. Makes me think Islam is not involved.

I'm wondering if all his family/friends are accounted for... 

[brimic]

Haven't seen a thread on this yet. Seems pretty clear at this point the co-pilot intentionally brought the plane down.

I've read that in the US that when a member of the flight deck crew goes to the bathroom that a flight attendant will take his/her place in the cockpit, specifically to help avoid situations like this. Anyone know if that's not the case in Europe?

I always wondered about that, seen it happen a few times- I always thought it was crew getting a little nookie.

[Angel Eyes]

The Telegraph is reporting that the co-pilot had a history of depression, and had taken a 6-month break from flight training in 2009.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/11491587/Airbus-A320-crashes-in-French-Alps-with-148-people-on-board-live.html

[Fitz]

Good thing we have impenetrable cockpit doors because terrorism

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

There is a claim from a german news source that this was aloha snackbar. That he got converted during his 6 months off for depression. Supposedly coos found something at his place they haven't announced yet


http://speisa.com/modules/articles/index.php/item.1086/the-co-pilot-of-the-germanwings-airbus-was-a-convert-to-islam.html#.VRST8IXpmGQ.facebook

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[Hawkmoon]

Occam's razor.

It's really the only explanation that makes any sense.

[Northwoods]

Occam's razor.

It's really the only explanation that makes any sense.

That or relatively recent onset of something like schizophrenia.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

I have seen suicidal folks who tried to take folks with em. Its why i wear a vest and carry a variety of attitude adjusters when i go visit someone who is suicidal


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[Balog]

[Marnoot]

Sounds like he'd just broken up with his girlfriend and was possibly hiding illness of some sort from his employer:
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/03/27/investigators-raid-germanwings-co-pilot-homes-as-questions-surround-mental/

[castle key]

To prevent further occurrences, we must ban commercial airliners...

[Ben]

I feel bad for the 150 lost souls. However this, like 9/11, was an extremely rare occurrence.

Now they're going to do the exact same thing they did then - spend hundreds of millions (possibly billions internationally) to make the cockpit "safe". Which, as Fitz alluded to, would have to be nearly the opposite of what they did to make the cockpit "safe" from terrorists. If they switch to allowing coded entry from outside the cockpit again, then of course they make the cockpit vulnerable to a terrorist who has tortured or otherwise coerced air crew into giving them the access code into the cockpit.

I don't see how they're going to provide the safety they're looking for to cover all potential threats. Unless they decide to put an armed Air Marshall in every cockpit. Of course then they'd better make it two, because one of them could flip out.

[Marnoot]

All I think they ought to do in response to this is something like what's done here that was mentioned (though I'm guessing it's airline policy here, not legislation/regulation): Have a flight attendant take the place of any flight deck crew that step out for a wee.

Doesn't require any additional money, doesn't require modifications to airplanes, doesn't require sweeping new comprehensive security legislation. Though they'll probably do something that requires all that instead.

[Ben]

All I think they ought to do in response to this is something like what's done here that was mentioned (though I'm guessing it's airline policy here, not legislation/regulation): Have a flight attendant take the place of any flight deck crew that step out for a wee.

Doesn't require any additional money, doesn't require modifications to airplanes, doesn't require sweeping new comprehensive security legislation. Though they'll probably do something that requires all that instead.

With all due respect to flight attendants (and you Marnoot), I don't get what that does now or what it will do in the future.  If the flight attendant can't fly, they're kind of along for the ride. Also, not to be chauvinistic, but most pilots are men, and most flight attendants are women. Unless they're MMA fighters in their spare time, what can the flight attendant do to stop a crazy pilot?

I suppose there is the psychological factor I heard discussed yesterday, that someone in a similar state of mind to this pilot might be dissuaded from acting out by the mere presence of another person, but that doesn't address a pilot in a sane state of mind who is actively committing a violent act.

[dogmush]

With all due respect to flight attendants (and you Marnoot), I don't get what that does now or what it will do in the future.  If the flight attendant can't fly, they're kind of along for the ride. Also, not to be chauvinistic, but most pilots are men, and most flight attendants are women. Unless they're MMA fighters in their spare time, what can the flight attendant do to stop a crazy pilot?

I suppose there is the psychological factor I heard discussed yesterday, that someone in a similar state of mind to this pilot might be dissuaded from acting out by the mere presence of another person, but that doesn't address a pilot in a sane state of mind who is actively committing a violent act.

She can open the cockpit Dorr for the pilot....

[Ben]

She can open the cockpit Dorr for the pilot....

Doesn't that "30 second lockout" work from both sides though (I don't know)? A lot could happen in 30 seconds.

[Marnoot]

Really need Fly320s to comment, but I would think the door could always be opened from the inside. A flight attendant could get the door unlocked, or at least provide a chance of the door getting unlocked.

Yes, if the perpetrator had this planned well in advance and brought means to quickly subdue the flight attendant, or just knocked her out, it wouldn't do anything.  But it would be a crapload better chance at survival if a flight attendant is in there as there's at least a chance she could get the door unlocked. Better than the 0% chance they had on this flight . . .

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/report-co-pilot-on-doomed-flight-had-psychological-treatments-in-past/2015/03/27/b1818c48-d40b-11e4-8b1e-274d670aa9c9_story.html?hpid=z1


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