In March 2015, Germanwings
Flight 4U9525 departed Barcelona at 10:01am local
time with 144 souls on board, destination Düsseldorf. The captain was a 10 year
veteran with Lufthansa and Germanwings, and had recorded more than 6,000 hours’
flying time. The co-pilot however, was
German native Andreas Lubitz, with 630 hours, and only 2 years experience.
Airbus 320 had reached its cruising altitude 30 minutes after takeoff, and the
Captain left the cockpit to use the restroom.
Shortly thereafter, Andreas Lubiz deliberately and entered a 3000’
decent rate into the auto pilot system.
Minutes later, the Captain returned to the cockpit door and attempted to
enter using the door code, but Andreas Lubitz had flipped the override switch,
disabling the keypad. The Airbus’ last
know altitude was 6000’ 8 minutes later, and what we know now is that it
crashed into the side of a mountain in the French Alps in an apparent “suicide/homicide”
mission.
Lubitz did not disclose any
mental health issues to his employer, and records show that he had been seen in
multiple clinics in the month’s prior, only described as “diagnostic
evaluation” because of privacy laws. (Eddy, M., Bilefsky, D., &
Clark, N., 2015, March 27). He also took several months off during his
initial flight training for ‘unknown reasons’.
Investigators later found a doctors note from the date of the incident,
torn up in a trashcan at his house, that he was unfit to work.
In March of 2012, Jet Blue Captain
Osborn had a very public, and crazy meltdown. While in the cockpit, he
mentioned to the first officer that he was “being evaluated” (Jim Avila
Matt Hosford
Christina NG
(2012, March 28) yelled at ATC to be quiet, started flipping switches,
and dimming monitors. Obviously
concerned with his crazy actions, the first officer suggested bringing up an
off duty Jet Blue Captain from the cabin, but instead Captain Osborn just left
the cockpit. He entered the cabin and
began screaming about everything from 9/11, terrorism, Al Qaeta, the plane is
going down, bomb, etc. The first officer
quickly locked the cockpit door, while a former New York corrections officer
tackled crazy Captain Osborn, and fellow passengers assisted in tying him up with
seat belt extenders. Once on the ground
the FBI took custody of Osborn, and he was later charged with with interfering with flight crew instructions. According
to the Department of Justice, this charge could be punishable by up to 20 years
in prison. Records show that Captain Osborns last medical was 4 months earlier,
and has not had any previous incidents.
Currently
pilots airline pilots have medial reviews annually (before age 40), and every 6
months after that. Psychological
screening is not part of that process, unless the Doctor has reason to suspect
otherwise. It is left up to the pilot to
essentially self-report. While this may
work fine for the mass of pilots that are truly of fit mind, this leaves the
door open for those that may have issues, and do not want to risk their
certificate, and ultimately their career.
While I don’t currently have a total solution for reform, there has to
be some way for pilots to evaluate their current status without fear of
punishment. If it is determined to be a
issue requiring professional assistance, then at least the process can take its
course with a known outcome.
On the
other hand, if the FAA and the airlines take a liberal approach to pilots with
mental issues and psychotic drugs, they open up the doors to future incidents,
possible tragedy, and massive liability.
There has to be a balance struck between someone who may be having
family issues (which everyone does at some point) and may need counseling, and
someone who is bipolar, or someone who is contemplating suicide…or homicide.
References:
Eddy,
M., Bilefsky, D., & Clark, N. (2015, March 27). Co-Pilot in Germanwings Crash Hid Mental Illness From Employer,
Authorities Say. Retrieved September 20, 2015. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/28/world/europe/germanwings-crash-andreas-lubitz.html?_r=0
Jim Avila
Matt Hosford
Christina NG
(2012, March 28),
JetBlue Pilot Yelled About Sept. 11 and 'Push It to Full Throttle' Retrieved September 20, 2015.
If I'm remembering correctly, the doctor's note that he destroyed was saying that he was unfit for duty that particular day (day of the crash), was it not? Makes you wonder about errors in the system regarding disclosing information. I understand in the U.S. we have HIPA laws that state medical information can't be released, but I wonder if that is the same in foreign countries? An overhaul of the system might be in order regarding situations where the potential for killing a lot of people is concerned. Changing it so the minute a pilot (or some other profession where you are responsible for a lot of lives) goes to mental health, it flags the system and you need clearance to fly again.
ReplyDeleteI think you bring up a very valid point when you talk about pilots risking their careers when disclosing illness. For many people money does not grow on trees. And people need to work for their living. And for pilots who know that they can continue flying in order to make a living even though they have a mental illness it makes sense for them. I'm not making an argument for pilots to lie about their illnesses I'm simply stating I can see why pilots who need to provide for their families don't disclose all of their illnesses in order to make the money they need.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you have to say about pilots being able to comfortably disclose information as personal as depression. I think that the FAA creates a certain face that scares a pilot into thinking that he will lose his job if he discloses this information. When in reality there are things that can be done to help that said pilot, while still maintaining his livelihood.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of going through the process with trying to have a known outcome. Its important the pilot does not have a fear of of loosing his career when it comes to these issues. Its dissatisfying that captain Osborne had a medical only 4 months ago and nothing was prevented from it.
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely correct there is a big difference between someone suffering from everyday life events and are trying to cope with the issue vs. someone with a mental illness such as suicidal tendencies. If the FAA started to allow this I can see there will be a lot of sad ending.
ReplyDeleteNice blog! I was not aware of the Jet Blue incident before reading this. It is interesting that he had his medical 4 months prior to that incident and never showed any signs of mental illness. This could be due to the fact that there is no psychological screening during there medical check up. Also, I found that the doctors who perform these medicals, for the most part, have no experience with the psychological aspect of the aviation field.
ReplyDelete