Killer pilot was suicidal and had therapy for years says prosecutor
KILLER pilot Andreas Lubitz had undergone therapy for suicidal tendencies, prosecutors revealed yesterday.
Lubitz, 27, was treated for several years by a psychotherapist before qualifying for his pilot’s licence. The revelations raise further concerns over why the German pilot was allowed to fly a passenger plane.
Prosecutor Christoph Kumpa said: “He was being treated by a psychotherapist for what is documented as being suicidal tendencies at that time.”
He said there had also been several visits to doctors right up until the time of the crash on March 24. Authorities have already revealed he hid a sick note for the day of the crash from his employers Germanwings, owned by Lufthansa, declaring him unfit to work.
Lubitz locked the captain out of the flightdeck and steered Flight 4U 9525 into the French Alps, killing all 150 people on board including three Britons.
Mr Kumpa said Lubitz was not suffering from any “medical illness”. However, the pilot feared he was going blind after he complained of blurred vision, which caused him to misjudge distances on occasions. Doctors believe his concerns were unfounded and his symptoms may have been brought on by stress and could have cleared up with rest and medication.
An investigator said: “If this is the reason why he killed himself, and all those others, then he may have chosen to die for entirely the wrong reasons.”
Yesterday, officials at the University Clinic of Dusseldorf handed over his medical notes to detectives and prosecutors.
Lubitz’s girlfriend, teacher Kathrin Goldbach, 26, has been quizzed by police and released. It is understood she has paid her respects at the crash site near the village of Le Vernet.
The headmaster of the school in Krefeld where she taught maths and English said she is too distraught to comment on her relationship.
The tragedy happened days after she reportedly said she was expecting Lubitz’s child. It was claimed the pair had split up due to his erratic behaviour.
French investigators said yesterday work had begun digging a route to the crash site.
Earlier, Australian Malcolm Coram and his family wept at the crash site where his sister Carol and nephew Greig died.