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Germanwings mass murder-suicide: Co-pilot Andreas Lubitz hijacked Airbus and flew into mountain killing 150 people

Gianluca Mezzofiore By Gianluca Mezzofiore

March 26, 2015 11:58 GMT 75 31

germanwings plane crash alps

Wreckage is seen at the crash site of the Germanwings Airbus in the French Alps(F Balsamo - Gendarmerie nationale / Ministere de l'Interieur via Getty Images)

Marseille prosecutor Brice Robin have confirmed the co-pilot of Germanwings A320 flight 4U9525 was alone inside the cockpit when the plane crashed and appeared to want to "destroy the plane", killing 150 people.

The co-pilot, a 28-year-old German national from Rhineland who had immigrated from Turkey and changed his name to Andreas Lubitz, was alive when the plane hit the ground, as revealed by a "breathing noise" from the recording. His breathing was normal throughout the final minutes of the flight, hinting that he was conscious and deliberate in his actions.

"The co-pilot manipulated the flight monitoring system to voluntarily start descent of the plane. He did it in a voluntarily way," the prosecutor said. "We could hear appeals from the pilot to access the cockpit, but no response from the cockpit."

The prosecutor said Lubitz "had no reason to do it" and had no links to any terrorist groups.

"Nothing to suggest this was a terrorist act," Robin said. He added that the passengers' death was instant, hitting the mountain at 700km/h.

"I don't think the passengers realised what was happening until last moments because on recording you only hear screams in final seconds." Robin said.

Earlier, the New York Times quoted a senior military official as saying one of the two pilots left the cockpit and could not get back in.

He said: "The guy outside is knocking lightly on the door, and there is no answer. And then he hits the door stronger, and no answer. There is never an answer. You can hear he is trying to smash the door down."

The investigator, who has not been named, said many questions remain unanswered on the reasons why one of the pilots went out. "But what is sure is that at the very end of the flight, the other pilot is alone and does not open the door," he said.

German prosecutors confirmed only the co-pilot was inside the cockpit at the time of the crash.

The captain, who has been confirmed as the one locked out when the plane crashed, had years of experience and more than 6,000 hours of flying time. He had been a Germanwings pilot since May 2014.

Lubitz had just 630 flying hours and joined Germanwings straight after training in September 2013.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2839199&forum_id=2#27557575)

The co-pilot, a 28-year-old German national from Rhineland who had immigrated from Turkey and changed his name to Andreas Lubitz, was alive when the plane hit the ground, as revealed by a "breathing noise" from the recording.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2839199&forum_id=2#27557579)

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/germanwings-mass-murder-suicide-co-pilot-hijacked-airbus-flew-it-into-mountain-killing-150-1493666

I searched "Lubitz turkey" on Twitter and found nothing

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=2839199&forum_id=2#27557582)