by Lufthansa Flyer | Apr 2, 2015 | 9525, Featured, germanwings |
Prosecutors in France have acknowledged that the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) from Germanwings 9525 has been recovered at the crash scene. No further information is yet available, however French authorities will hold press conference tonight (Local time) to discuss the discovery. The contents of the FDR have not yet been extracted or reviewed at this point. The FDR contains all of the telemetry of the aircraft including all data on gages and aircraft flight settings and will provide critical data about the state of the aircraft leading up to the crash.
In other news regarding 4U 9525, Dusseldorf’s Public Prosecutor’s Office has released the findings of a search of the Co-Pilot’s Tablet PC. In their findings, the prosecutors office is stating that the Co-Pilot had in the days preceding the crash searched the internet for topics related to suicide and security of cockpit doors. The search for these topics took place between March 16 and March 23, 2015.
by Lufthansa Flyer | Mar 31, 2015 | 9525, germanwings |
Lufthansa announced today that it has cancelled the airline’s 60th Anniversary celebrations that were set to take place on April 15. Originally, plans had called for a gathering at Hangar 7 (The A380’s home) in Frankfurt where special guest, Chancellor Angela Merkel was to join in celebrating the airline’s jubilee.
The cancellation is obviously out of respect to the victims who were lost in the Germanwings tragedy last week and to their families that survive them.
Instead, family members and friends will gather at the Cologne Cathedral on April 17 to take part in a memorial and remembrance service for those that were lost. The memorial service is being organized by Chancellor Merkel’s office and by the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Friends and Family will gather at the Cologne Catherdal to honor the victims of Germanwings flight 9525
by Lufthansa Flyer | Mar 29, 2015 | 9525, Featured, germanwings |
Thanks to Flynet (I’m enroute from FRA to home in the states), I’m seeing German newspaper Bild Am Sonntag is reporting that the Copilot who crashed Germanwings flight 9525 may have been suffering with a detached retina, which may have led to the depression that he was said to be dealing with.
German media is also reporting that investigators had found a number of medications in his apartment that are used for the treatment of depression and that he had been treated by a number of psychiatrists and neurologists.
In these same reports, Police are said to have found notes written by the copilot that suggest evidence of ‘Severe Overstress Syndrome’.
It also appears that the identity of 50 victims has been established. Investigators are using DNA samples taken from family members of the victims in order to establish their identity.
State Prosecutors in Dusseldorf are expected to provide updates at some point on Monday.
by Lufthansa Flyer | Mar 28, 2015 | 9525, Featured, germanwings |
Lufthansa moved quickly to provide families of those lost in flight 9525 with financial assistance to help bridge economic gaps that may have been caused by the loss of their loved ones. The initial gesture by Lufthansa will provide €50,000 ($54,450.00) in the interim while the investigation continues and before any settlements are enter into.
KEEP IN MIND this is not the end of Lufthansa’s commitment to help victims. This is simply a bit of money to help families continue to meet their overhead and maintain some semblance of a lifestyle while going through this difficult process.
At some point in the future, it is likely that settlements will be reach with each family and settlements will typically be made on a case by case basis, taking into account the victims earnings, age and what I’ll refer to as Human Life Value —- the financial value of someone’s life to a family based on economic contribution, age of surviving family members, size of family, family structure etc. It is a complex formula with a myriad of criteria and needs to be done on a case by case basis.
From what I understand, each family will be able to adjudicate their claim in the country of the victim’s residence. This is an important aspect since laws governing liability, settlements, etc. vary greatly between countries which in turn will determine what will be done for each family. This is just the first step in a lengthy procedure and typically these settlements are negotiated privately and sums are usually kept confidential.
by Lufthansa Flyer | Mar 28, 2015 | 9525, Featured, germanwings |
Reports are starting to emerge concerning the mental state of the co-pilot, Andreas Lubitz, in the days and weeks that preceded his intentional crashing of Germanwings 9525. I’ve been in Frankfurt for the last few days and have been watching and reading the local media and trying to make sense of the findings.
What I’m seeing:
-Lubitz had gone to a medical clinic in Dusseldorf 2 weeks ago at which point he was given a medical note concerning a diagnosis. Apparently this diagnosis was severe enough that it would give him a medical reason to not fly as a pilot.
-There is the suggestion that a personal relationship may have soured recently. Apparently he had also bought 2 vehicles a few weeks ago but details surrounding the transaction remain unclear. It is unknown for whom the vehicles were for, though he did take delivery of one of them recently.
-Documents dating as far back as 2009 demonstrated that he underwent serious episodes of depression at which point he took a sabbatical from the cockpit and was receiving treatment for 18 months. After completing his treatment, he re-qualified as a pilot by completing all of the required qualifying exams and certifications.
-Media outlets have been interviewing those that were close to Lubitz. In one instance a former girlfriend (referred to by the media as Mary W.) indicated that he suggested to her that ‘One day I will do something that will change the whole system, and then all will know my name and remember it’. She had also suggested that he was suffering from ‘Burnout Syndrome’.
Tragically, the details behind his motivation are becoming very clear. Kudos to the investigators for being able to piece together such a complicated scenario in such short order which is hopefully allowing friends and family to begin the healing process.
