Germanwings co-pilot hid depression from FAA

The US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) issued Germanwings flight 4U9525 co-pilot Andreas Lubitz with a pilot's license despite a previous false declaration that he had no mental health problems.

Published: 30 April 2015 12:18 CEST

Germanwings co-pilot hid depression from FAA

Germanwings flight 4U9525 co-pilot Andreas Lubitz. Photo: DPA

FAA documents record Lubitz' pilot training in Arizona, a necessary stage en route to becoming a qualified airline pilot, Bild reported on Thursday.

Lubitz later sent in a medical form in which he declared that he did not suffer from any mental illnesses.

But he soon followed up with a document in which he acknowledged that he had previously been treated for serious depression.

Lubitz received a written warning from the FAA that his dishonesty could lead to his application being rejected and asked for further information from his doctor.

After the doctor had confirmed that Lubitz was cured of his condition, the authority issued his license as normal.

Investigators currently believe that Lubitz deliberately crashed flight 4U9525 into the French Alps on a flight from Barcelona to Düsseldorf, killing all 150 people on board.

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