Evidence Germanwings co-pilot hid illness, prosecutors say

This is an undated image taken from Facebook of Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz in San Francisco, Calif. Lubitz the co-pilot of the Germanwings jet barricaded himself in the cockpit and “intentionally” rammed the plane full speed into the French Alps on Tuesday, ignoring the captain’s frantic pounding on the cockpit door and the screams of terror from passengers, a prosecutor said Thursday, March 26, 2015. In a split second, he killed all 150 people aboard the plane.
This is an undated image taken from Facebook of Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz in San Francisco, Calif. Lubitz the co-pilot of the Germanwings jet barricaded himself in the cockpit and “intentionally” rammed the plane full speed into the French Alps on Tuesday, ignoring the captain’s frantic pounding on the cockpit door and the screams of terror from passengers, a prosecutor said Thursday, March 26, 2015. In a split second, he killed all 150 people aboard the plane.

MONTABAUR, Germany — Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz appears to have hidden evidence of an illness from his employers, including having been excused by a doctor from work the day he crashed a passenger plane into a mountain, prosecutors said Friday.

The evidence came from the search of Lubitz's homes in two German cities for an explanation of why he crashed the Airbus A320 into the French Alps, killing all 150 people on board.

Prosecutor's spokesman Ralf Herrenbrueck said in a written statement that torn-up sick notes for the day of the crash "support the current preliminary assessment that the deceased hid his illness from his employer and colleagues."

Such sick notes from doctors excusing employees from work are common in Germany and issued even for minor illnesses. Herrenbrueck didn't reveal details of what illness Lubitz was suffering from.

Herrenbrueck said other medical documents found indicated "an existing illness and appropriate medical treatment," but that no suicide note was found. He added there was no indication of any political or religious motivation for Lubitz's actions.

Germanwings, a subsidiary of Lufthansa, refused to comment on the new information.

Read Saturday’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

IN TODAY'S EDITIONS

Upcoming Events