Investigators Say Germanwings Co-Pilot Researched Cockpit Doors, Ways to Commit Suicide

The co-pilot responsible for allegedly flying a Germanwings flight into the French Alps last week reportedly researched information on cockpit doors and suicide, prosecutors investigating the case announced Thursday.

Düsseldorf Prosecutor Christoph Kumpa said Thursday that a tablet recovered from the home of 27-year-old co-pilot Andreas Lubitz indicates the suspect had researched how cockpit doors work, as well as different ways to carry out suicide.

Prosecutors believe that Lubitz intentionally locked the cockpit door on Germanwings flight 9525 to prevent entry from the flight's crew, ultimately flying the plane into a remote area of the French Alps, killing all 150 people on board.

Investigators have also discovered that Lubitz sought help for suicidal tendencies several years ago. The co-pilot also reportedly visited multiple doctors to treat an undisclosed illness, keeping his medical history secret from his employee, Lufthansa Airlines, which owns Germanwings.

According to CNN, Lubitz's medical history indicates that he visited several doctors to help deal with bouts of severe depression.

The recent downing of the Germanwings flight has spurred questions regarding patient-doctor confidentially for pilots.

The head of the German Aviation Association, Klaus-Peter Siegloch, said in a statement that the confidentiality pilots feel with their doctors is of the utmost importance.

"The confidence our pilots have in our medical doctors is of high importance," he said. "I believe if there is a lifting of doctor-patient confidentiality, then possibly pilots will not trust in medical doctors and that will make the situation worse."