Air Crash Investigation, German Wings 9525

January 28th 2017

Air Crash Investigation
National Geographic 

This week saw the return of Air Crash Investigation to our screens here in the UK, this sires never gets old and its always fascinating to watch how investigators piece a crash back together piece buy piece and all the circumstances that build up to it as well.

Its a really well put together show, firstly showing you the event as it happened then walking you through the investigation. All the blind alleys and false leads and finally showing you how they came to their conclusion.

German Wings Aircraft For Reference Only 

This week looked at the tragic German Wings aircraft that crashed into the french alps. A German Wings plane on route from Spain to Germany looses altitude when it enters Marseilles control and crashes into the alps. Despite the best effort of the controllers on the ground to get in touch with the plane no word is heard and the investigation starts to piece back the crash and work out what went wrong.

The worst air disaster on french soil in 30 years Is quick to be investigated, with pressure from social media the authorities move in quickly. Of course as with any crash the BEA (french crash investigators) search for the data recorders and check weather reports. Weather was perfect for flying and as the crash has come just months after terrorist attacks in France with heightens suspicion that this is a terrorist attack, but a check of the wreckage rules out a bomb straight away. The radar track looks like a controlled flight into terrain so mechanical problems are the next avenue to be eliminated. Due to a lack of communication and previous accidents involving hypoxia this avenue is explored, as mechanical problems are now the prime suspect they have to be eliminated quickly incase theres a wider impact on other aircraft. The records of the aircraft's maintenance are checked and nothing points to problems with the aircraft.

The cockpit voice recorder is the first clue and although damaged the BEA are able to piece together the recording. This is where the plot thickens when the captain goes to the toilet the first officer locks him out and repeatedly ignores his request to reenter the cockpit, then starts a decent into the mountain side. With no evidence of mechanical problems and no terrorist organisation claiming responsibility every thing points to copilot suicide. German police begin to look and the co-pilots home and french investigators look at his personal records and find a history of depression mid way through training. He was signed off as cured by a psychiatrist and fit to resume training. After training he got a job with german wings. Passing every medical it was only a matter of time, with delusions of ill health he sees over 40 doctors and one issues a note telling him not to fly due to his mental health. Every thing points to the co-pilot suicide.

The flight data recorder is found at when timed to the voice recorder it shows that the copilot set the plane to a descent and controlled it all the way in. As a response airlines make it a requirement to have two crew members in the cockpit at and one time whilst in flight, and more stringent psychological evaluations . A tragedy I think you'll agree.