Ten years after the Germanwings crash: Memory in Haltern and Düsseldorf

Ten years after the Germanwings crash: Memory in Haltern and Düsseldorf

On March 24, 2015, one of the most tragic disasters occurred in the history of German aviation. A Germanwings machine that was on the way back from a student exchange in Spain to Düsseldorf crashed into the French Alps. At 10:41 a.m., 150 people lost their lives, including 16 students and two teachers from Haltern am See. Headmaster Ulrich Wessel brought the stunned parents the shattering message [Saarbruecker-zeitung.de] reported that ...

The investigation showed that the copilot Andreas Lubitz had deliberately brought about the crash. At the time of the flight, he was mentally ill and knew about his illness, but had not reported it. Among other things, he had previously visited 41 doctors and prescribed psychotropic drugs. The voice recorder and the flight data writer confirmed that Lubitz intentionally headed the machine into the descent. There was no technical mistake on the aircraft, which was reported by the public prosecutor [Saarbruecker-zeitung.de] that ...

The psychological background

The background to Lubitz 'mental health increasingly focuses on the discussion. During his pilot training, his training was interrupted due to depressive disorders. This raises questions about flight safety and the psychological standards in aviation. According to [Spiegel.de], psychological problems in the industry are often displaced, which can lead to serious security risks.

However, the topic of psyche and flying is complex. Gerd Wenninger, project manager and private lecturer at the Technical University of Munich, deals intensively with the topic of aviation psychology. With over 20 years of experience in the publication of various specialist books, including works on psychology and psychotherapy, he shows that psychological complaints should be taken seriously. [spektrum.de] reports that ...

a lasting legacy

In the ten years after the disaster, a strong community has developed among the relatives of the victims. At the city's cemetery of Haltern, a work of art was established as a permanent memory of the deceased. In addition, a plaque at the school is reminiscent of the 18 victims, where a candle is constantly burning. On the tenth anniversary of the crash, memorial events in Haltern, Düsseldorf and Barcelona are planned. These events offer the bereaved the opportunity to mourn their relatives and to preserve the memory of them [saarbruecker-zeitung.de] that ...

The demand for the responsibility of Lufthansa has so far been unsuccessful, because no failures on the side of the airline have been found. However, some relatives are legally fighting against the Federal Aviation Office. Alternative theories about the crash have been proposed, but most experts consider it indisputable [Saarbruecker-zeitung.de] that ...