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SISTERON, France (AP) — The father of one of the victims of this week's plane crash in the French Alps is calling for airlines to take greater care over pilots' welfare.
French prosecutors have said they believe German co-pilot Andreas Lubitz deliberately crashed the Germanwings flight. Authorities have since said Lubitz hid evidence of an illness from his employers — including a sick note for the day of the crash.
Speaking near the site of the crash, Philip Bramley says Lubitz's motive was irrelevant. Bramley's 28-year-old son, Paul, was one of 150 people killed in Tuesday's disaster. He says action must be taken to ensure the incident is not repeated.
Aviation experts say medical checks on pilots are stringent but focus mainly on physical health. A pilot's mental state is usually only assessed before companies decide whether to admit them to a training program.
A special Mass was being held today in a town near the crash site to honor the victims and support their families.
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117-r-10-(Sound of Lydie (LID'-ee), local resident (speaking French), at special Mass to honour the victims and support their families)--Sound of a local resident called Lydie saying it's terrible and horrible for the families, adding that she feels "broken". (28 Mar 2015)
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072-r-27-(Sound of organ music, at church service in honor of victims of Germanwings plane crash in France)--There was organ music at a church service in honor of victims of the Germanwings plane crash in France. (28 Mar 2015)
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073-r-38-(Sound of choral music, at church service in honor of victims of Germanwings plane crash in France)--There was choral music at a church service in honor of victims of the Germanwings plane crash in France. (28 Mar 2015)
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APPHOTO CLP122: French Red Cross members and inhabitants pay tribute to the victims in front of a stele, a stone slab erected as a monument, set up in the area where a Germanwings aircraft crashed in the French Alps, in Le Vernet, France, Saturday, March 28, 2015. The crash of Germanwings Flight 9525 into an Alpine mountain Tuesday killed all 150 people aboard, and has raised questions about the mental state of the co-pilot. Authorities believe the 27-year-old German deliberately sought to destroy the Airbus A320 as it flew from Barcelona to Duesseldorf. (AP Photo/Claude Paris) (28 Mar 2015)
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APPHOTO CLP123: Inhabitants of Le Vernet, leave after an homage in front of a stele, a stone slab erected as a monument, set up in the area where a Germanwings aircraft crashed in the French Alps, in Le Vernet, France, Saturday, March 28, 2015. The crash of Germanwings Flight 9525 into an Alpine mountain Tuesday killed all 150 people aboard, and has raised questions about the mental state of the co-pilot. Authorities believe the 27-year-old German deliberately sought to destroy the Airbus A320 as it flew from Barcelona to Duesseldorf. (AP Photo/Claude Paris) (28 Mar 2015)
<<APPHOTO CLP123 (03/28/15)££
APPHOTO CLP118: Family members of a victim pause in front of a stele, a stone slab erected as a monument, set up in the area where a Germanwings aircraft crashed in the French Alps, in Le Vernet, France, Saturday, March 28, 2015. The crash of Germanwings Flight 9525 into an Alpine mountain Tuesday killed all 150 people aboard, and has raised questions about the mental state of the co-pilot. Authorities believe the 27-year-old German deliberately sought to destroy the Airbus A320 as it flew from Barcelona to Duesseldorf. (AP Photo/Claude Paris) (28 Mar 2015)
<<APPHOTO CLP118 (03/28/15)££
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