Four horrifying last words uttered by pilot before crashing plane into mountain and killing all on board
A Sky documentary released last month examined the heart-breaking disaster of Germanwings Flight 9525.
The passenger plane crashed into the French Alps March 24, 2015 after leaving Barcelona, Spain destined for Dusseldorf in Germany, killing all on board.
The flight was supposed to be a routine journey for the 150 people on board but an hour after take-off, the flight had crashed into the French Alps at a speed of 430mph.
An investigation was soon undertaken including the retrieval of the aircraft's black box which found that the crash had been a result of deliberate action by co-pilot Andreas Lubitz.
This led to an overhaul of rules regarding pilots being in the cockpit alone in a bid to stop the terrible incident from being repeated.
Flight 9525 took off at 10am local time, with its last interaction with air traffic control coming half an hour afterwards.
It was around this time when Captain Patrick Sondenheimer exited the cockpit to use the lavatory and Lubitz locked the door, barring his entry back in. The last words recorded on the plane's flight recorder was Lubitz telling his captain: "You can go now."
As Sondenheimer left the cockpit to use the lavatory, he informed Lubitz he is in control of radio communications. At around 28 minutes into the flight, the door can then be heard closing.
It's at this point that Lubitz changed Flight 9525's altitude from 38,000 feet to 100 feet before beginning a descent into the mountains and ignored attempts at communication from air traffic control as the plane descends towards the ground.
The co-pilot remained silent for the rest of the flight while Sondenheimer can be heard banging on the door desperate to get back into the cockpit.
But efforts from the plane's captain were fruitless because Lubitz had also overridden the emergency access codes which would have given the flight crew access to the cockpit.
This meant he was alone in the command centre and in full control of the aircraft. As Sondenheimer grew increasingly frantic, he can be heard yelling, 'open the damn door' while he continues to try and break it down.
In the final moments of the recording, passengers can be heard screaming just before Flight 9525 slams into the mountainside. This harrowing sound seems to show many of them were not aware of what was happening until the last minute.
In the aftermath of the crash, it was revealed Lubitz had suffered from severe depression and also had displayed suicidal tendencies.
He had been declared unfit to fly by his doctor but this information had been hidden from his employer.
After the incident, there was more conversation around medical confidence new policies were implemented in the aviation industry to address pilot mental health.
A former girlfriend of Lubitz offered chilling insight into the pilot after she recalled something he said before the crash. She told a German newspaper: "One day I will do something that will change the whole system, and then all will know my name and remember it. I never knew what he meant, but now it makes sense."
Lubitz's family staunchly rejected the final report into the cause of the crash and denied that it was suicide. They claimed instead he'd fallen unconscious prior to Flight 9525's crash.
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Daily Record
28-06-2025
- Daily Record
Four horrifying last words uttered by pilot before crashing plane into mountain and killing all on board
It was a horrific air crash that shocked the world — a pilot who suffered from severe depression locking himself in the cockpit before crashing the plane and killing all on board A Sky documentary released last month examined the heart-breaking disaster of Germanwings Flight 9525. The passenger plane crashed into the French Alps March 24, 2015 after leaving Barcelona, Spain destined for Dusseldorf in Germany, killing all on board. The flight was supposed to be a routine journey for the 150 people on board but an hour after take-off, the flight had crashed into the French Alps at a speed of 430mph. An investigation was soon undertaken including the retrieval of the aircraft's black box which found that the crash had been a result of deliberate action by co-pilot Andreas Lubitz. This led to an overhaul of rules regarding pilots being in the cockpit alone in a bid to stop the terrible incident from being repeated. Flight 9525 took off at 10am local time, with its last interaction with air traffic control coming half an hour afterwards. It was around this time when Captain Patrick Sondenheimer exited the cockpit to use the lavatory and Lubitz locked the door, barring his entry back in. The last words recorded on the plane's flight recorder was Lubitz telling his captain: "You can go now." As Sondenheimer left the cockpit to use the lavatory, he informed Lubitz he is in control of radio communications. At around 28 minutes into the flight, the door can then be heard closing. It's at this point that Lubitz changed Flight 9525's altitude from 38,000 feet to 100 feet before beginning a descent into the mountains and ignored attempts at communication from air traffic control as the plane descends towards the ground. The co-pilot remained silent for the rest of the flight while Sondenheimer can be heard banging on the door desperate to get back into the cockpit. But efforts from the plane's captain were fruitless because Lubitz had also overridden the emergency access codes which would have given the flight crew access to the cockpit. This meant he was alone in the command centre and in full control of the aircraft. As Sondenheimer grew increasingly frantic, he can be heard yelling, 'open the damn door' while he continues to try and break it down. In the final moments of the recording, passengers can be heard screaming just before Flight 9525 slams into the mountainside. This harrowing sound seems to show many of them were not aware of what was happening until the last minute. In the aftermath of the crash, it was revealed Lubitz had suffered from severe depression and also had displayed suicidal tendencies. He had been declared unfit to fly by his doctor but this information had been hidden from his employer. After the incident, there was more conversation around medical confidence new policies were implemented in the aviation industry to address pilot mental health. A former girlfriend of Lubitz offered chilling insight into the pilot after she recalled something he said before the crash. She told a German newspaper: "One day I will do something that will change the whole system, and then all will know my name and remember it. I never knew what he meant, but now it makes sense." Lubitz's family staunchly rejected the final report into the cause of the crash and denied that it was suicide. They claimed instead he'd fallen unconscious prior to Flight 9525's crash.
Wales Online
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Germanwings Flight 9525 crash led to new safety rule still used by major airlines today
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Daily Mirror
07-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Huge rule introduced after Germanwings tragedy that pilots still follow
The tragic 2015 crash claimed the lives of 150 people (Image: Ministere de l'Interieur/Getty Images) Sky Documentaries is set to revisit the heart-wrenching Germanwings flight disaster that occurred in 2015, killing all passengers on board. Flight 9525 was en route from Barcelona to Dusseldorf on March 24, when co-pilot Andreas Lubitz barricaded himself in the cockpit and deliberately crashed the plane into the French Alps. The flight's captain, Patrick Sonderheimer, had reportedly stepped out for a toilet break and was unable to persuade Lubitz to unlock the door in the crucial moments leading up to the devastating crash. Subsequent investigations unveiled that Lubitz had a history of psychiatric treatment and had grappled with suicidal thoughts. Prosecutors also found evidence of his internet searches, which included inquiries about the most effective methods of suicide, reports the Manchester Evening News. A new rule required flights to have two crew members in the cockpit at all times (Image: AFP via Getty Images) A decade after this shocking tragedy, viewers will be keen to understand what measures have been implemented to enhance flight safety. In the aftermath of the incident, Lufthansa, the parent company of Germanwings, introduced a rule mandating the presence of two crew members in the cockpit at all times. Other airlines, including EasyJet, followed suit by adopting similar policies. This safety protocol was already in place in the United States, and some European airlines such as Ryanair had comparable procedures in effect. In a pivotal move back in 2017, the German Aviation Association (BDL) declared that airlines would no longer be compelled to adhere to the two-person cockpit rule. They asserted that the policy did not bolster safety on flights and could invite other dangers, such as cabin crew being tied up during emergencies rather than assisting passengers. The new Sky documentary revisits the tragedy (Image:) The announcement from the German association came a year after the European Aviation Safety Agency eased up on the same regulation. They advised airlines to apply the measure on a case-by-case basis. While some airlines continue to practice the two-person policy, it is no longer considered compulsory. Tonight's new Sky documentary (May 7) offers an in-depth investigation into the sequence of events that culminated in the catastrophic crash of the Germanwings plane. The official synopsis states: "In 2015, Germanwings Flight 9525 crashed in the French Alps, killing 150 passengers and crew members. A decade later, survivors, experts and journalists have their say." Germanwings: What Happened on Flight 9525? airs tonight at 9pm on Sky Documentaries
