We’ve gotten to the point where we have to inspect the flight crew for malfunction more than the aircraft itself.
That is just so unsettling.
OMG.
Mental illness or terrorism?
I had a feeling this was the reason the minute I heard about the details of the crash. It just didn’t make sense.
The world is going mad, once again. Either a madman or worse. But what could be worse? All those children…very sad.
@emilybee, when I heard that the plane had not sent any kind of distress signal, I feared that it had been deliberate as well.
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/03/27/world/europe/germanwings-crash.html
Here’s a more detailed account from the New York Times. Horrible beyond words.
I had bad feelings about this crash from the moment I heard about it.
This is nauseating. I haven’t read much about the victims but I do know that an entire class of 16-year-olds, and their teachers, were on board, as well as a young American woman and her mother.
H was on a flight home from Germany that morning, when my first log on to the internet showed a German plane had crashed. I usually don’t ask his flight plans, but the night before when I talked to him, I did say, “You’re on United, right?” So at least when I saw the headlines, I only had to scroll down a few sentences to realize it wasn’t his flight. I had to stop access to any news that day until I knew he landed, because I kept thinking, how do they know at this point it wasn’t terrorism, or part of some bigger plan? Realistically, I knew it probably wasn’t, but when you’ve got a loved on in the air, not far from a crash site, it’s a bit unnerving, and logic goes out the window.
Re: http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/03/27/world/europe/germanwings-crash.html
Hmmm, did the NYT intentionally choose a picture of the co-pilot sitting in front of a specific bridge that has a reputation?
I think the picture of the co-pilot was taken from his Facebook page, but yes, I was wondering the same. I am wondering if they are suggesting this was a suicide and not terror attack. We will see once more info is released what the motive was
I will tell you that this news has truly just floored me…i would never have imagined this outcome…even when i heard last night that the pilot was locked out, I truly believed that a medical emergency had overcome the co-pilot and that he was unable to respond.
i am comforted by one thought…evidently the passengers did not understand that the plane was in distress until only seconds beforehand.
If the Facebook page is really his, this was his profile pic
This is scary, this will be the second time a pilot intentionally crashed a plane. Remember Egypt Air 990?
Its scary, because some of this is a result of 9/11. Did we go too far in locking the cockpit doors? Now pilots cant get back in.
It’s not like suicide by pilot is unheard of. There have been several over the years. Imo, I don’t think this was terrorism in the sense that we usually define it.
http://news.aviation-safety.net/2013/12/22/list-of-aircraft-accidents-caused-by-pilot-suicide/
I don’t buy this suicide theory yet. How many people who commit suicide need to take 150 people along with them?
He seemed awfully young to me to be the co-pilot of this plane.
^ apparently several have done just that in the past.
It’s hard for me to accept that it was intentional without hearing him say anything, or leave a note, or any hint that he is going to do it. Did he have any friends? Any signs at all of a potential suicide? It sure looks that way, but I can’t at this point go with it 100%. There is still some doubt in my mind.