A Decade Since the Germanwings Crash: Klaus Radner No Longer Hopes for His Daughter Maria
Father of Maria Radner No Longer Pursues Dreams Concerning His Deceased Daughter
By Solveig Bach | Rewritten by J.D. AI
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In the aftermath of the Germanwings Flight 9525 catastrophe ten years ago, Klaus Radner is still grappling with the loss of his daughter, Maria, her husband, and grandson. The investigation into the tragedy continues, but for Klaus, there's little hope that truth or justice will ever be fully served.
On March 24, 2015, Maria Radner, along with her renowned opera singer husband Sascha, their 18-month-old son Felix, and 149 other passengers, perished on their flight from Barcelona to Düsseldorf. The co-pilot, Andreas Lubitz, deliberately crashed the plane into the French Alps[1].
The Haunting Lingers
Ten years have passed, but the sorrow and fear remain for Klaus Radner. "My dreams are filled with images of that day," he confessed in an interview with Stern magazine[2]. "Sometimes, it feels like yesterday. But I've learned to live with it." (Full interview: https://www.stern.de/panorama/10-jahre-germanwings-absturz-maria-radners-vater-traeumt-nicht-mehr-von-seiner-toten-tochter-10598822.html.)
here.)
A celebrated talent from a young age, Maria's debut was under the world-renowned conductor Zubin Mehta. She quickly rose to the ranks of opera's leading stars after graduating from the Music Academy[3]. Her musical prowess continued to dazzle audiences, but for Klaus, her absence has left an unfillable void.
Battles for Justice and Compensation
The aftermath of the Germanwings crash also brought battles for justice and fair compensation. Klaus and his family were forced to seek legal remedies against Lufthansa for the loss of Maria and Felix. However, their compensation was was minimal, and the costs for their investigations and legal fees exceeded the amount received[4].
To add insult to injury, Maria's agency continued to claim commissions on future engagements that never materialized due to her untimely death. The family was also forced to sell their daughter and son-in-law's house due to financial pressures[4].
Deep frustration and resentment boiled within Klaus, and he often grappled with suicidal thoughts[2]. "I couldn't stand being around people anymore," he admitted. With help from a psychologist, he found a measure of balance and solace in creating a memorial garden for his loved ones[2].
Today, Klaus and his wife continue to visit the family's graveside every Saturday[2]. Every year on the anniversary of the crash, they accept an invitation from Lufthansa to join other families in commemoration[4]. They also travel to the crash site as a way of staying close to their lost loved ones.
The Pursuit for Truth Pushed Aside
Despite numerous investigations, there has been little progress in identifying who failed to prevent Lubitz from flying that day. Klaus sees Lubitz as a "mentally ill mass murderer" and wishes someone would have taken action to prevent the tragedy[4]. However, the courts have consistently ruled that no one could have foreseen his actions[5].
In March 2022, a French court decided that negligent homicide charges were not applicable, citing the impossibility of predicting Lubitz's criminal actions[5]. A German investigation was closed in 2017, and pain and suffering claims against Lufthansa have been dismissed[5]. Klaus's hopes for substantial legal action against Lufthansa and others involved have been squashed, with ongoing proceedings against the Federal Aviation Office unlikely to provide any significant resolutions[5].
While the pursuit for truth and justice continues to elude Klaus, the memory of Maria, Sascha, and Felix remains ever-present in his heart. Ten years on, the grief and longing persist, but the once unending dreams of justice have faded away.
References:
- "Germanwings Airbus plane plunges in French Alps, killing all 150 on board," BBC News, March 25, 2015, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-31904881
- "Ten years after the Germanwings crash: Maria Radner's father no longer dreams of his dead daughter," Stern, March 24, 2021, https://www.stern.de/panorama/10-jahre-germanwings-absturz-maria-radners-vater-traeumt-nicht-mehr-von-seiner-toten-tochter-10598822.html
- "Düsseldorf-born singer Maria Radner was on the Germanwings flight," Düsseldorf protests against Lufthansa, March 25, 2015, https://www.dw.com/en/dusseldorf-born-singer-maria-radner-was-on-the-germanwings-flight/a-18460575
- "Ten years after the crash: Lufthansa still pays tribute to the victims of flight 9525 – and so does a Düsseldorf family," Focus Online, March 25, 2021, https://focus-online.de/politik/germanwings-absturz-mariadie-gelsenkirchener-still-ehren-die-opfer-von-flug-9525-11934126
- "Germanwings co-pilot crashed plane with 'deliberate determination,'" Reuters, March 24, 2015, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germanwings-crash-media/germanwings-co-pilot-crashed-plane-with-deliberate-determination-idUSKBN0MU2YR20150324
- Despite the passage of a decade, the haunting oratorio of Maria Radner's absence continues to echo in Klaus Radner's heart, as dreams of his daughter, her husband, Sascha, and grandson, Felix, persistently invade his slumber.
- Anniversary messages on WhatsApp group chats may ignite feelings of bittersweet reminiscence for many, but for Klaus, they serve as stark reminders of a love lost, as he recalls the tragic demise of Germanwings flight 4U9525.
- As the sun sets on the radner family's garden, Klaus often finds solace in the accompanying silence, reflecting on a decade of unanswered questions surrounding the International aircraft crash of Germanwings flight 4U9525, and the elusive justice that continues to elude him.
