Germanwings pilot was locked out of cockpit before crash in France http://t.co/ZaIz1o0vbs pic.twitter.com/0l9Ony69Nr
— The New York Times (@nytimes) March 26, 2015
Editor’s note: This post has been updated.
After last night’s bombshell report from the New York Times alleging that either the co-pilot or pilot had been locked out of the cockpit of Germanwings flight 4U9525 immediately prior to its crash, many on Twitter are asking about the identity and nationality of the co-pilot and pilot.
However Lufthansa, the parent company of Germanwings, won’t tell us. From the AP:
Lufthansa chief executive Carsten Spohr described the pilots as “experienced and trained” in a press conference in Barcelona Wednesday night.
Lufthansa has refused to identify the pilots, or give details of ages and nationality, but it said the co-pilot joined Germanwings in September 2013, directly after training, and had flown 630 hours.
The captain had more than 6,000 hours of flying time and been Germanwings pilot since May 2014, having previously flown for Lufthansa and Condor, Lufthansa said.
But it looks like German media sources are reporting at least the first names of the pilots:
“@DavidhBrown: Pilots in #GermanWingsCrash named as Germans Captain Patrick S and co-pilot Andreas L http://t.co/hQ7ZxhSJdS”
— l4zick (@L4zick) March 26, 2015
German media naming Captain as "Patrick S". a dad of two with over ten years flying experience and co-pilot as "Andreas L." #GermanWings
— Andy Lines (@andylines) March 26, 2015
https://twitter.com/wwlanguage/status/581045863163785217
German paper @BILD names #Germanwings pilots as Patrick S. and Andreas L. (No full surnames) pic.twitter.com/HEvyZpJ68O
— Claire Phipps (@Claire_Phipps) March 26, 2015
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Editor’s note: See update below.
And Le Monde is reporting that it was the co-pilot who was locked out:
https://twitter.com/MelissahYang/status/581047654404132866
#Germanwings plane crash: Le Monde reporting First Officer was locked out of cockpit while Captain was at controls: http://t.co/VlCIqtHuMg
— Independent.ie (@Independent_ie) March 26, 2015
OK this #Germanwings story is getting crazier. Le Monde is reporting Captain was locked INSIDE cockpit while co-pilot was locked outside.
— Phil LeBeau (@Lebeaucarnews) March 26, 2015
We’ll update this post as we learn more information.
Update. Here’s a video of the “cockpit door entry procedure” that explains how a pilot would be able to lock himself inside the cockpit:
Airbus safety video shows cockpit door entry procedure – video http://t.co/8VFXmwN2Qu #4U9525
— The Guardian (@guardian) March 26, 2015
Update 2. French prosecutors say co-pilot was at the controls:
#Breaking: French prosecutors say copilot of the #Germanwings plane, Andreas Guenter Lubitz, appeared to want to "destroy the plane".
— Jessica Gonzalez (@HessicaGonzalez) March 26, 2015
BREAKING: French prosecutor says #Germanwings co-pilot appeared to want to `destroy the plane'
— FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) March 26, 2015
#BREAKING: #Germanwings: Passengers did not know what was happening until shortly before impact; screams heard throughout cabin before crash
— Tony Morrison (@THETonyMorrison) March 26, 2015
It was co-pilot's "intention to destroy this plane" French officials say http://t.co/Cd2D1Vuluy #Germanwings
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) March 26, 2015
That quote: Co-pilot "wanted to destroy the aircraft." Terrible. #Germanwings
— Briän Ries (@moneyries) March 26, 2015
Pretty hard to shock me with any kind of news but…#Germanwings pic.twitter.com/bfC91Yoy6a
— Niall Stanage (@NiallStanage) March 26, 2015
#Germanwings co-pilot named as Andreas Lubitz – “There is no element that indicates this is a terrorist action” http://t.co/t9d0rYIjDf
— Guardian US (@GuardianUS) March 26, 2015
BREAKING: #Germanwings pilot was a German national, prosecutor says he was "not known as a terrorist, absolutely not."
— Jack Moore (@JFXM) March 26, 2015
https://twitter.com/LukeReuters/status/581064653607960576
Editor’s note: Additional tweets has been added to this post.
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