France’s BEA makes recommendations after Germanwings crash report released

After a year-long investigation in to the crash of Germanwings flight 9525, which occurred on March 24 2015, killing all 150 passengers and crew on board. France’s Le Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses pour la Sécurité de l’Aviation civile (BEA) have urged air agencies across the world to amend their policies with regard to medical workers’ authority to report any pilot’s mental state if it is considered to be a threat to public safety.
The investigation discovered that the co-pilot of the Germanwings flight, Andreas Lubitz, had consulted several doctors in the weeks running up to the crash, with one in particular referring him to a psychiatric clinic just two weeks before the crash. However, rules regarding patient confidentiality are particularly stringent in Germany and as a consequence, despite concerns, no report was issued to his employers. In addition, Lubitz himself chose not to inform his employers with regard to his mental state or the warnings he had been issued with by those medical practitioners he had consulted with.
Arnaud Desjardin, leader of the BEA investigation, commented that: “Experts found that the symptoms (two weeks before the crash) could be compatible with a psychotic episode,” adding that this information “was not delivered to Germanwings.” BEA said in a statement that because Lubitz didn’t inform anyone of his doctors’ warnings, “no action could have been taken by the authorities or his employer to prevent him from flying.”
It has been confirmed that Lubitz was taking antidepressants when the crash happened – traces of Citalopram and Mirtazapine were found in the remains of his body, along with the sleeping medication Zopiclone. The US Library of Medicine’s entry for Citalopam indicates that young adults who take the drug could become suicidal, “especially at the beginning of your treatment and any time that your dose is increased or decreased.”
While Desjardin has indicated that “clearer rules are needed to preserve public security,” Germany air accident investigation agency’s Johann Reuss told The Associated Press “there is no need to change the law,” adding “it might not be easy” to relax the privacy rules, suggesting authorities focus on giving doctors’ checklists to prevent similar situations arising with pilots.
The new BEA safety recommendations include the creation of peer support groups for aviation workers and other practices to minimize the stigma and fear of losing a job over mental health issues. “The reluctance of pilots to declare their problems and seek medical assistance … needs to be addressed,” BEA stated, while Lufthansa pledged to back the new safety recommendations, confirming it will “continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities and will support the possible implementation of concrete measures” based on the contents of the report.
The Germanwings brand has been replaced with the name Eurowings since the crash.