Investigators Find Doctors' Notes Inside Apartment Of Accused Germanwings Co-Pilot
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Investigators say they found several doctors' notes inside the apartment and family home of the co-pilot accused of crashing a Germanwings airplane in the Alps, including one excusing him from flying the day of the crash. It was torn up, investigators said.
A hospital confirms 28-year-old Andreas Lubitz visited as recently as March 10, but won't say for what.
"Whatever it may be, how did this get to the point where he decided to take everybody with him?" psychiatrist Dr. Alan Manevitz said.
Dr. Manevitz said even though investigators are looking into the possibility that Lubitz suffered from depression, it would be reckless to make assumptions.
"There are many pilots over the years who suffered depression, but they don't take the aggression out on others," Manevitz told CBS2's Weijia Jiang.
Here in the United States, airline pilots undergo a medical exam at least once a year. As part of that evaluation, doctors ask pilots about their psychological condition but don't take any specific psychological tests to gauge mental health. However, Manevitz believes they should.
Mark Moller is an aviation attorney with expertise in litigating crashes.
"(How easy is it for a pilot to hide any psychological condition they have, from the FAA?) I would think it's relatively easy for a pilot who's articulate in presenting himself well to hide some psychological problem or issue he thinks he controls," Moller said.
German prosecutors said they did not find a suicide note or anything indicating the crash was a religious or political move.
