It is being reported throughout the world that the young co-pilot of Germanwings Flight 9525 intentionally crashed the plane into the French Alps yesterday, killing all 150 people on board. In its wake, grieving families are looking for answers as to why a person would commit such a horrific act. Major news outlets are reporting that the 28-year-old co-pilot from Germany who has been working for the airline since 2013 locked out the captain and apparently deliberately crashed the plane. CNN is reporting that someone manually re-programmed the autopilot from 38,000 feet to 100 feet. Experts say that in the mountainous region, that would only spell one outcome – a crash. U.S. regulations recommend that at least two people be in the cockpit at all times, largely for medical emergency reasons. CNN also reported that only five planes have been intentionally crashed by pilots in aviation history: A summary of those crashes can be read here.
Among those who were killed are three American citizens – two from Virginia and another whose father resides in Barcelona, Spain. A world prays for all of the families who lost loved ones aboard that tragic flight. Kevin P. Durkin, partner at Clifford Law Offices, has spoken to Bloomberg News, Bloomberg television, Canadian television and the Wall Street Journal about the legal implications for the families who lost loved ones in this tragic crash. Mr. Durkin has taken the depositions of literally hundreds of experts and aviation executives in the course of the past quarter century involving his intensive work in aviation litigation. He has been discussing the Montreal Convention and other national and international laws that come into play, particularly for the three Americans who were killed on board.