Germanwings Pilot Was Locked Out of Cockpit Before Crash in France

[KalashniKEV]

When AA Flight 587 crashed in Queens 2 months after 9/11, everyone thought it was terrorism, when it was in fact a direct result of poor pilot training.

A better example was when kiddies were getting gunned down on Utoya and buildings exploding in downtown Oslo- the media link to radical Islamic terror in the aftermath was more than just speculative.

As it turns out though, the guy was a Christian fundamentalist who prayed to Jesus for success in murdering every child on the island.

[ABNAK]

I read the passengers were heard screaming in the last few seconds as they realized the plane was getting lower and lower, and I'm guessing saw the frantic struggle up at the cockpit door. What a horrible way to die.

[Renegade]

All kidding aside, it is hard to imagine a senario where this is accidental if the reports are true.

The evidence I have heard suggests nothing but accidental. I have heard there is no conversation, just silence and a gradual decline to crash.

I would think if it was intentional, there would arguing, profanity, and a steep dive.

[Renegade]

Apparently, the door was intentionally disabled from the inside. It is now reported this was an intentional act, ruling out the medical emergency possibility. Again, I continue to lean to suicide (and murder).

Yes it is SOP to deliberately lock door from inside at all times.

[7.62NATO]

Yes it is SOP to deliberately lock door from inside at all times.

Not to disable to the point that re-entry with code from the outside is impossible.

[Renegade]

Not to disable to the point that re-entry with code from the outside is impossible.

Well I have never been on a Lufthansa A320 but of all the planes I have been on there is no code. Once the door is locked from inside, nobody is getting in. It is mechanical, not electronic. Even if it is a code-based door, I find it hard to believe that this early into the investigation they have already found the door, examined evidence, and have concluded this. Seems to be a horrible design if an inexperienced pilot can do that so quickly and easily. But hey it would not be the first design flaw in an Airbus that resulted in a crash.

Recall just a few months a go a US plane had a door malfunction and the co-pilot had to land it by himself.

Keep in mind that in breaking news like this early reports of the "facts" are usually wrong.

[rjacobs]

Well I have never been on a Lufthansa A320 but of all the planes I have been on there is no code. Once the door is locked from inside, nobody is getting in. It is mechanical, not electronic. Even if it is a code-based door, I find it hard to believe that this early into the investigation they have already found the door, examined evidence, and have concluded this. Seems to be a horrible design if an inexperienced pilot can do that so quickly and easily. But hey it would not be the first design flaw in an Airbus that resulted in a crash.

Most doors are electronic, not pure mechanical. Most doors have a keypad. You know the code, you punch it in, you wait. The cockpit crew has 3 options: allow, deny, auto(has a delay where if they do nothing the door opens).

And an "inexperienced" pilot had at least a 2 month training class and is type rated in the airplane he is flying. Operation of the door would be covered in probably both the systems portion of the class as well as the security portion as well as the physical hands on "doors" training on either a real airplane or a procedure trainer. Its not an unfamiliar thing to do or a "gee, I wonder what this switch panel does".

[Korgs130]

Most doors are electronic, not pure mechanical. Most doors have a keypad. You know the code, you punch it in, you wait. The cockpit crew has 3 options: allow, deny, auto(has a delay where if they do nothing the door opens).

And an "inexperienced" pilot had at least a 2 month training class and is type rated in the airplane he is flying. Operation of the door would be covered in probably both the systems portion of the class as well as the security portion as well as the physical hands on "doors" training on either a real airplane or a procedure trainer. Its not an unfamiliar thing to do or a "gee, I wonder what this switch panel does".

You are 100% correct. The Airbus door is very similar to the Boeing 737, both electrical and mechanical with an keypad. Added to the training, the pilots use the door several times each day, so they have a lot of hands on experience with it.

[7.62NATO]

Most doors are electronic, not pure mechanical. Most doors have a keypad. You know the code, you punch it in, you wait. The cockpit crew has 3 options: allow, deny, auto(has a delay where if they do nothing the door opens).

And an "inexperienced" pilot had at least a 2 month training class and is type rated in the airplane he is flying. Operation of the door would be covered in probably both the systems portion of the class as well as the security portion as well as the physical hands on "doors" training on either a real airplane or a procedure trainer. Its not an unfamiliar thing to do or a "gee, I wonder what this switch panel does".

Clearly, the co-pilot actively denied cockpit access. Revisions to cockpit access will undoubtedly take place.

[rjacobs]

Clearly, the co-pilot actively denied cockpit access. Revisions to cockpit access will undoubtedly take place.

Clearly(in my most sarcastic tone). You are as bad as the media at speculation. Nobody knows what really happened. They are speculating, plain and simple. Until they find the flight data recorder, its all speculation based off of a tape recording.

I doubt we will see a change in the US as far as cockpit access goes. I wont go into detail, but in the USA we are never alone in the cockpit, even with an electronic door.