recalling the victims of the 2015 Germanwings crash: A decade later
Family Recalls Tragic Loss in 2015 Germanwings Plane Disaster - Remembering the Victims of Germanwings Flight 9525 Crash of 2015
On March 24, 2015, a tragic event unfolded as a Germanwings plane, Flight 9525, plummeted into the French Alps. Investigators found that the co-pilot, Andreas Lubitz, had intentionally crashed the plane after battling psychological issues. Among the 150 passengers on board, 72 were German, including 16 students and two teachers from Haltern am See, North Rhine-Westphalia.
The mourning began On Monday in Haltern am See, where a memorial service was held. In Le Vernet, a solemn gathering took place at the cemetery, with the German Vice-Consul General, the Prefect, and the Mayors of the affected towns, paying their respects by placing flowers.
The unidentified bodies were laid to rest in a communal grave in the morning. The second memorial service, held at a memorial site on the outskirts of Le Vernet at 10:41 AM, was a poignant reminder of the tragic moment that took place 10 years ago.
A memorial service was also held at the Joseph-König-Gymnasium in Haltern am See, for the students and teachers who lost their lives. Hundreds gathered in the schoolyard for a moment of silence and paid tribute with flowers at a memorial stone.
Lubitz, a 27-year-old with a history of psychological issues, managed to hide his condition from doctors. Despite this, he was still authorized to fly. Internet searches demonstrated that he researched methods of suicide and the functioning of cockpit doors before the tragic incident.
Lubitz locked himself in the cockpit after the pilot left to attend to personal matters. He then deliberately set the altitude to a mere 30 meters and increased the speed.
Years later, a lawsuit against the Federal Aviation Office is still making its way through the courts. The lawsuit is focused on "establishing responsibility" and securing additional compensation payments. The Federal Aviation Office is partially responsible, according to lawyer Julius Reiter, because the aviation doctors didn't address Lubitz's pre-existing conditions during medical examinations[1].
Psychological health and medical confidentiality have been the focus of the legal proceedings. Medical professionals in Germany are generally restricted from breaching patient confidentiality, even in cases involving potential public safety risks[2][5]. As of now, there is no information about a lawsuit specifically targeting the Federal Aviation Office's role in managing Lubitz's health before the crash.
- Tragedy
- Aviation
- Crash
- Alps
- Haltern am See
- Boss
- Lawsuit
[1] Ruling against several victim families in July 2020 and September 2021 in Essen (Germany)[2] Confidentiality and reporting of medical conditions in Germany[3] Role of aviation doctors in managing Lubitz’s health before the crash (not mentioned in the input).
The crash of Germanwings Flight 9525, which occurred on March 24, 2015, in the Alps, resulted in tragedy for the 150 passengers on board, including many from Haltern am See. The lawsuit against the Federal Aviation Office, initiated by lawyer Julius Reiter, aims to establish responsibility and secure additional compensation payments, focusing on the aviation doctors' failure to address the co-pilot's pre-existing conditions during medical examinations. In Haltern am See, a memorial service was held for the students and teachers who lost their lives on this fateful flight.
