NYT: Pilot was locked out

[Berzerker]

I dont have a link, but the NYT is saying they got up to elevation and one of the pilots left for the bathroom and couldn't get back in.

****

They dont know if the other pilot wouldn't let him in intentionally or if they became incapacitated - it doesn't sound like a depressurization of the plane

[Aeson]

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/26/world/europe/germanwings-airbus-crash.html

[onejayhawk]

We now have the possibility of siezure, heart attack and other medical events involving the single pilot. The other tack is suicide or a suicide attack.

J

[Proteus_MST]

Actually a security measure since 9/11 (i.e. the adoption of cockpit doors that can per default only be opened from inside the cockpit by most airlines) that probably proved to be fatal in this case (i.e. if the reports about the 2nd pilot being locked out prove to be true)

[kentonio]

Weird though, they say the crew can override the lock from the outside unless the pilot inside has locked out that override. Very odd.

[Proteus_MST]

Germanwings AFAIK is supposed to give a press conference at 1 PM (i.e. in 2 mins) ... maybe this can she an official light on the story

[Proteus_MST]

O.K., seems like it is official now ...
the copilot delibrately initiated the descent of the plane ...
and it seems like he was capable of acting till the last ...
so it de facto appears to be a case of suicide/mass murder

[kentonio]

[dannubis]

my god...

[DinoDoc]

O.K., seems like it is official now ...
the copilot delibrately initiated the descent of the plane ...
and it seems like he was capable of acting till the last ...
so it de facto appears to be a case of suicide/mass murder

Question for people that fly: Is the procedure describe here common across airlines? It might not have prevented to take over by the co-pilot but would have made it more difficult.

[Proteus_MST]

Question for people that fly: Is the procedure describe here common across airlines? It might not have prevented to take over by the co-pilot but would have made it more difficult.

The rule that always 2 people have to be in the cockpit (i.e. that someone from the flight crew takes the place if a pilot has to go somewhere) is something that seems to be common in american airlines. It´s not in use by most (or even all) european airlines however.
(was mentioned in the germanwings press conference)

I assume this will change in the near future however, after this incident

[C0ckney]

[Hauldren Collider]

Oh my god. Unbelievable.

[Imran Siddiqui]

[The Mad Monk]

As horrible as it is, it's better than imagining some new mechanical failure or smuggled bomb was the cause. We know what happened and have some idea of how to deal with it.