Germanwings Flight 9525

320 GERMANWINGS D-AIPX 147 10 05 14 BCN RIP (16730197959)

Germanwings Flight 9525

Accident
Date	March  24, 2015 (2015-03-24)
Summary	Deliberate crash by co-pilot
Site	French Alps, near Prads-Haute-Bléone, France
Aircraft
Aircraft type	Airbus A320
Operator	Germanwings
Registration	D-AIPX
Flight origin	Barcelona–El Prat Airport
Destination	Düsseldorf Airport
Passengers	144
Crew	6
Fatalities	150
Injuries	0
Survivors	0

Germanwings Flight 9525 was a scheduled international passenger flight from Barcelona–El Prat Airport in Spain to Düsseldorf Airport in Germany. On 24 March 2015, the Airbus A320 aircraft operating the flight was deliberately crashed into the French Alps by the co-pilot, Andreas Lubitz. All 144 passengers and six crew members were killed.

Flight details

The aircraft, an Airbus A320-211, was registered as D-AIPX and was operated by Germanwings, a low-cost airline owned by Lufthansa. The flight departed from Barcelona–El Prat Airport at 10:01 CET and was scheduled to arrive at Düsseldorf Airport.

Crash

At approximately 10:31 CET, the aircraft began to descend from its cruising altitude of 38,000 feet. The descent continued until the aircraft crashed into the French Alps near Prads-Haute-Bléone, France, at around 10:41 CET. The crash site was located in a remote area, making recovery efforts challenging.

Investigation

The investigation was led by the Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA) of France. The cockpit voice recorder revealed that the co-pilot, Andreas Lubitz, had locked the captain out of the cockpit and deliberately initiated the descent. Further investigation uncovered that Lubitz had a history of depression and had concealed his medical condition from his employer.

Aftermath

The crash of Germanwings Flight 9525 led to changes in aviation regulations, including the requirement for two authorized personnel to be present in the cockpit at all times. The incident also raised awareness about the importance of mental health screening for pilots.

Memorials

Several memorials were established to honor the victims of the crash. A memorial service was held in Cologne Cathedral, and a permanent memorial was erected near the crash site in the French Alps.

See also

• List of accidents and incidents involving commercial aircraft
• Suicide by pilot
• Aviation safety