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Disturbing audio indicates co-pilot Andreas Lubitz may have intentionally crashed Germanwings Airbus A320
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Mar 26, 2015
Listen 12:46
Disturbing audio indicates co-pilot Andreas Lubitz may have intentionally crashed Germanwings Airbus A320
The released audio from Germanwings Airbus A320’s recovered voice recorder is disturbing: the pilot can be heard tapping with increasing force on the locked cockpit door as he returns from using the restroom, but only breathing can be heard from the co-pilot as the plane is manually controlled to descend.
French prosecutor of Marseille Brice Robin (C), flanked by General David Galtier (R), speaks to the press on March 26, 2015 in Marignane airport near the French southern city of Marseille.  The co-pilot "voluntarily" initiated the descent of the Germanwings flight that crashed into the French Alps and refused to open the door to the pilot who was outside the cockpit, the lead investigator said today.  AFP PHOTO / FRANCK PENNANT        (Photo credit should read FRANCK PENNANT/AFP/Getty Images)
French prosecutor of Marseille Brice Robin (C), flanked by General David Galtier (R), speaks to the press on March 26, 2015 in Marignane airport near the French southern city of Marseille. The co-pilot "voluntarily" initiated the descent of the Germanwings flight that crashed into the French Alps and refused to open the door to the pilot who was outside the cockpit, the lead investigator said today.
(
FRANCK PENNANT/AFP/Getty Images
)

The released audio from Germanwings Airbus A320’s recovered voice recorder is disturbing: the pilot can be heard tapping with increasing force on the locked cockpit door as he returns from using the restroom, but only breathing can be heard from the co-pilot as the plane is manually controlled to descend.

The released audio from Germanwings Airbus A320’s recovered voice recorder is disturbing: the pilot can be heard tapping with increasing force on the locked cockpit door as he returns from using the restroom, but only breathing can be heard from the co-pilot as the plane is manually controlled to descend.

Andreas Lubitz, co-pilot of the downed Germanwings flight, appears to have showed a “willingness to destroy [the] aircraft.” The CEO of Lufthansa, the parent company of Germanwings, stated that Lubitz was “100 percent fit to fly” and that “no system in the world” could have foreseen his actions.

What can be done to prevent pilots and co-pilots from crashing planes? Is there a technical solution to the problem, or does the problem require a comprehensive reevaluation of pilot screening, training, and care?

Guests:

Dr. Diane Damos, aviation psychologist and founder of Damos Aviation Services

Michael Barr, senior instructor in the Aviation Safety Program at the Viterbi School of Engineering at USC. He’s an expert in aviation safety as well as airline crash investigation and prevention.

Credits
Host, AirTalk
Host, All Things Considered, AirTalk Friday
Senior Producer, AirTalk & FilmWeek
Producer, AirTalk with Larry Mantle
Producer, AirTalk with Larry Mantle
Associate Producer, AirTalk with Larry Mantle
Apprentice News Clerk, AirTalk
Apprentice News Clerk, FilmWeek