The chilling final words of the pilot who deliberately crashed a plane into the Alps, killing all 150 passengers and crew members on board, have been revealed.
On March 24, 2015, Germanwings Flight 9525 was en route from Barcelona, Spain, to Düsseldorf, Germany, for a routine flight—until it took a tragic and horrifying turn.
Tragically, all 150 passengers and crew aboard perished when the plane plummeted into the French Alps at a horrifying speed of 430 mph, just under an hour after taking off.
Following an investigation, it was revealed that co-pilot Andreas Lubitz deliberately caused the crash by locking the pilot out of the cockpit and disabling an emergency system designed to grant access to the flight deck.
Around 10 AM, just an hour after departing from Barcelona, First Officer Captain Patrick Sondenheimer stepped out of the cockpit to use the restroom. In his absence, Lubitz changed the plane’s altitude from 38,000 feet to just 100 feet and initiated a rapid descent into the mountains, sealing the cockpit door behind him.
The black box recorder played a crucial role in reconstructing the final moments of the ill-fated flight. The plane’s last communication with air traffic control occurred about 30 minutes after takeoff.
In a chilling exchange captured by the black box, Lubitz told Sondenheimer that he was ready to take over the controls “at any time.” Shortly after, Lubitz casually informed the captain, “You can go now,” signaling that he was in control.
Around 28 minutes into the flight, Sondenheimer entrusted Lubitz with the radio communications before stepping out of the cockpit, at which point the door was heard closing.
As Flight 9525 began its rapid descent, Lubitz immediately seized control, adjusting the aircraft’s altitude while ignoring frantic attempts from air traffic control to make contact.
Having disabled the emergency access codes to ensure he was alone in the cockpit, Sondenheimer was heard desperately pounding on the door after being locked out. Lubitz remained silent for the rest of the flight.
In his growing desperation, Sondenheimer screamed, “Open the damn door,” as he tried to break into the cockpit while the plane continued its horrifying descent.
The last moments were captured in chilling audio, with the terrified screams of passengers echoing as the plane crashed into the mountainside, claiming all lives on board.
The investigation revealed that Lubitz had been struggling with severe depression and suicidal thoughts. Despite his doctor deeming him unfit to fly, he had hidden this from his employers.
Furthermore, Lubitz’s ex-girlfriend revealed a disturbing statement he had made to a German newspaper, saying, “One day I will do something that will change the whole system, and then all will know my name and remember it.” She added, “I never knew what he meant, but now it makes sense.”
In response to the tragedy, new regulations were introduced to prevent future disasters, including changes to cockpit procedures regarding pilots being alone.
Lubitz’s family, however, denied that he intentionally caused the crash, claiming he had lost consciousness before the plane went down.
You can now watch Germanwings: What Happened on Flight 9525? on SkyGo, a documentary exploring the tragic events in more detail.