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Alps Crash: UK Airlines To Review Procedures

Alps Crash: UK Airlines To Review Procedures

UK airline operators are being told to review safety procedures after a passenger plane appears to have been deliberately flown into a mountain.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) contacted British airlines after it emerged the co-pilot of the Germanwings flight activated the descent button and refused to open the cockpit door to the pilot.

European airlines are not required to have two people in the cockpit at all times, unlike in the US where a flight attendant must take their place if a pilot leaves the cabin.

Budget airlines easyJet and Norwegian Air Shuttle have already announced they will require two crew members to be in the cockpit at all times.

The Airbus 320, travelling from Barcelona to Dusseldorf, crashed in the French Alps, killing all 144 passengers and six crew .

The CAA said: "Following the details that have emerged regarding the tragic Germanwings incident, we are co-ordinating closely with colleagues at the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and have contacted all UK operators to require them to review all relevant procedures.

"All UK airline pilots undergo extensive and regular medical assessments to determine their fitness to hold a licence.

"As part of this, aeromedical examiners are required to assess a commercial pilot's mental health at each medical examination which, for an airline pilot flying with at least one other pilot, is undertaken annually.

"These detailed medical assessments are in line with international aviation standards.

"We will continue to monitor the situation as the investigation develops and our thoughts remain with the friends and relatives of all those affected by this tragic incident."

British airline pilots' association BALPA said pilots will work with authorities to ensure lessons are learned from the tragedy.

French prosecutors said co-pilot, Andreas Lubitz , 28, was alone at the controls and "intentionally" sent the plane into its doomed, eight-minute descent.

He wanted to "destroy the plane," they said.