Huge rule introduced after Germanwings tragedy that pilots still follow

Daily Mirror

07-05-2025

The tragic 2015 crash claimed the lives of 150 people (Image: Ministere de l'Interieur/Getty Images)
Sky Documentaries is set to revisit the heart-wrenching Germanwings flight disaster that occurred in 2015, killing all passengers on board.
Flight 9525 was en route from Barcelona to Dusseldorf on March 24, when co-pilot Andreas Lubitz barricaded himself in the cockpit and deliberately crashed the plane into the French Alps.
The flight's captain, Patrick Sonderheimer, had reportedly stepped out for a toilet break and was unable to persuade Lubitz to unlock the door in the crucial moments leading up to the devastating crash.
Subsequent investigations unveiled that Lubitz had a history of psychiatric treatment and had grappled with suicidal thoughts. Prosecutors also found evidence of his internet searches, which included inquiries about the most effective methods of suicide, reports the Manchester Evening News.
A new rule required flights to have two crew members in the cockpit at all times (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
A decade after this shocking tragedy, viewers will be keen to understand what measures have been implemented to enhance flight safety.
In the aftermath of the incident, Lufthansa, the parent company of Germanwings, introduced a rule mandating the presence of two crew members in the cockpit at all times. Other airlines, including EasyJet, followed suit by adopting similar policies.
This safety protocol was already in place in the United States, and some European airlines such as Ryanair had comparable procedures in effect.
In a pivotal move back in 2017, the German Aviation Association (BDL) declared that airlines would no longer be compelled to adhere to the two-person cockpit rule. They asserted that the policy did not bolster safety on flights and could invite other dangers, such as cabin crew being tied up during emergencies rather than assisting passengers.
The new Sky documentary revisits the tragedy (Image:)
The announcement from the German association came a year after the European Aviation Safety Agency eased up on the same regulation. They advised airlines to apply the measure on a case-by-case basis.
While some airlines continue to practice the two-person policy, it is no longer considered compulsory.
Tonight's new Sky documentary (May 7) offers an in-depth investigation into the sequence of events that culminated in the catastrophic crash of the Germanwings plane.
The official synopsis states: "In 2015, Germanwings Flight 9525 crashed in the French Alps, killing 150 passengers and crew members. A decade later, survivors, experts and journalists have their say."
Germanwings: What Happened on Flight 9525? airs tonight at 9pm on Sky Documentaries