Advertisement

Lubitz, Germanwings co-pilot, researched 'suicide and cockpit doors'

The second black box was also recovered.

By Andrew V. Pestano

DUSSELDORF, Germany, April 2 (UPI) -- Andreas Lubitz, the co-pilot accused of deliberately crashing a Germanwings airliner, previously researched suicide and cockpit doors, according to prosecutors.

German prosecutors said officials found an iPad at Lubitz's apartment that contained recent internet searches in its browser history.

Advertisement

"During this time the user was searching for medical treatments, as well as informing himself about ways and possibilities of killing himself," investigators said in a statement. "On at least one day the person concerned also spent several minutes looking up search terms about cockpit doors and their safety measures."

The Germanwings A320 crashed in the French Alps on March 24 -- 150 people died and there were no survivors. Prosecutors believe Lubitz locked the pilot out of the cockpit and descended the flight until its crash.

Germanwings, a subsidiary of Lufthansa, deemed Lubitz fit to fly.

The flight data recorder black box was also recovered. Investigators hope to use its technical information about radio transmission times and the plane's airspeed, acceleration, altitude and direction.

Lubitz descended the plane for a little more than eight minutes before it crashed.

German media outlet Bild and French magazine Paris Match reported Tuesday they had obtained cellphone footage from inside the plane in its final moments before the crash.

Advertisement

Bild reported the video was recorded at the rear of the plane. There are audible screams amid chaos. The newspaper said the video confirms voice recorder analysis of three metallic sounds, apparently of the captain attempting to break open the cockpit door with an ax or other metal object.

It is reported that Lubitz previously told a psychotherapist that he had suicidal thoughts.

Latest Headlines