Lufthansa, the German airline that owns Germanwings, now says that co-pilot Andreas Lubitz did inform them that he did have bouts of depression in the past.
In a statement, Lufthansa said that it was handing over documents to the public prosecutor in Dusseldorf, where Lubitz lived. After its own internal investigations, Lufthansa discovered that Lubitz did sent an email to the Flight Training Pilot School in 2009, telling them that he had a “previous episode of severe depression.”
Lubitz was the co-pilot of Germanwings flight 4U9525. Prosecutors believe that he deliberately crashed the plane in the French Alps last Tuesday, killing himself and all 149 other people onboard.
The investigation has revealed that he may have had a mental illness, as torn-up doctor’s notes were found in his apartment. The prosecutor’s office has also said that he was treated for “suicidal thoughts.”
Meanwhile, a European government official told CNN Tuesday that investigators spoke to Lubitz’s girlfriend, who said that he had psychological issues, but wasn’t aware of their extent. They also had relationship issues, but was surprised to learn about what he did on the plane.