MONTABAUR, Germany — The co-pilot suspected of intentionally crashing Germanwings Flight 9525 apparently tried to hide his medical treatments from the airline, including tearing up a “sick note” that covered the day of the crash, a German prosecutor said Friday.
The statement gave no details on the medical issues, but Germany’s Bild newspaper reported that Andreas Lubitz had been treated for at least one “serious depressive episode” in the past and had to suspend his flight training because of psychological issues.
The twin accounts added to growing suspicions that the 27-year-old pilot had a series of psychological treatments over the years as he moved up the ranks from flight attendant to the cockpit of an Airbus A320.
Ralf Herrenbrück, a senior prosecutor in Düsseldorf, said it appears Lubitz had “existing illness and medical treatment” and that had tried to conceal them from the airline and colleagues. Herrenbrück said “torn-up, current sick notes were found, including from the day of the incident.” He gave no other details about the contents of the notes, but such notes in Germany are typically written by a medical professional to excuse their patients from work or other obligations.
Herrenbrück said the documents and other evidence “supports the assumption that the deceased had been hiding his illness from his employer and colleagues.”
He added that none of the evidence recovered so far clearly points to specific motive.
“The measures did not result in the finding of a so-called suicide note or a written claim of responsibility,” he said. “Neither was any evidence found that the incident was politically or religiously motivated.”
The University Hospital Düsseldorf confirmed Lubitz visited the facility in February and, for the last time, on March 10 for “diagnostic clarifications.” The hospital statement gave no further details, citing medical confidentiality. It denied German media reports that Lubitz had been treated there for depression.
The account by Bild cited security sources saying Lubitz has been in a “life crisis” that included troubles with his girlfriend.
The report drew no direct connection between Lubitz’s present psychological state and Tuesday’s apparently deliberate plunge into the French Alps that killed all 150 aboard.
Bild reported that Lubitz received treatment six years ago for a “serious depressive episode” at the beginning of his training. It also said Lubitz had slowed his flight training because of treatment for unspecified psychological issues.
