A French prosecutor has issued a statement that the co-pilot of Germanwings 9525, Andreas Lubitz, 28, locked out the pilot of the plane and then intentionally crashed the plane in the French Alps. The conclusion adds a new horrific detail to an already horrific crash. It was not an accident according to a review of the record from the black box found at the crash site.
The cockpit voice recorder revealed the pilot politely knocking to be allowed back into the cockpit and then frantically banging on the door as Lubitz directed the plane into the ground. Marseille prosecutor Brice Robin said that Lubitz “wanted to destroy this plane.” He killed 150 passengers and crew, who can be heard in the background screaming in terror. New reports indicate that there may have been issues in the past with regard to depression.
Germanwings, a low-budget carrier operated by Lufthansa, will likely face litigation over the crash and this adds a new issue. Companies will often offer a “rogue employee” defense of an employee acting outside the scope of their employment or clearly against the rules and wishes of the employer. This would clearly appear to fit since this is a senseless criminal act. However, there will remain the question of whether the airline had any indication or should have uncovered the type of mental imbalance that would lead to such an suicidal and murderous act.
Source: WSJ
@ William Berry
“[And just to be clear; there is no internecine quarrel on the left here. I take Ken to be a nice, responsible, grownup, decent liberal; I am a born-again hard lefty from a labor activist back-ground: Former USW Amalgamated 7686 president, part-time business agent, organizer, etc. We hard-core lefties dislike ‘decent, responsible’ liberals almost* as much as we dislike right-wing nut-bags.”
I’m sorry to have to quibble with your analysis of my political posture (to the extent I have one), but I’ve never in my seven decades considered myself a “Democrat,” a “Republican,” a “liberal,” or a “conservative.”
If, like P HaW, you find it uncongenial, if not actually mentally painful, to relate with people without categorizing and labeling them, then color me a “Christian Individualist.”
P HaW, too, likes the word “lefty,” invoking it like a linguistic talisman in every other comment he posts, yet he can’t even define the word, an example of what I was referring to regarding the impoverished thinking manifested in their commentary by him and his small cohort.
As you seem to favor the term, too, perhaps you can enlighten me regarding its meaning, at least as you identify with it.
As I indicated in my first comment to you, I appreciate the light-handed moderation of this blog, but I’ll be skimming over any emotional, undefined- epithet-slinging that you and your cohort and he and his want to engage in.
Frankly, exchanges like that are just too, what’s the word, boring. 🙂
Sez YoMama.
Who said a bunch of men can’t sound like a bunch of beeyotches? Thought that men were supposed to be above this? Have a feeling that the culprits here need to have their testosterone levels checked.
That’s right Wallace. There ain’t a dimes worth of difference between ’em.
“The Heritage Stink Tank.”
In contrast, Wallace is the epitome of grace and charm, with his ‘hail fellow well met’ camaraderie and boundless cheer.
Pogo and Trooper
You are both very funny as the thread is in dire need of humor from the internet psychologists 101 raving about low end defense mechanism 😉
What an amazing thread. Some real knowledgeable comments. Of course, there’s the same old people engaging in their endless bickering and sniping.
Darren is the best GBer we have ever had here. The crap he has taken from former GBers and commenters here shows just how good and valuable he is. It is a badge of honor to be derided by the dishonorable. And, he has always stayed above the vitriol. The cop training probably helps in that regard.
Also, too: The haters– racists, Islamo-phobes, misogynists, et al in this country are the catoptric image of the radical Islamists they profess to despise so much.
Again, this is no surprise.
William Berry –
This is just stupid!!!!
@Ingannie:
Right on.
There is one thing I am in firm agreement with Pat Buchanan on: There is, indeed, a culture war raging in this country.
And right now, the good guys are losing.
That, too, is nothing new. Civilization has been under assault by the forces of hatred and violence and just plain nescience in general for all of recorded history. I regret to say the end is not yet in sight.
William Berry – I consider myself a ‘white hat’ good guy and I do not think we are losing. I do feel the left is in terrible trouble.
Darren,
I just noticed this:
“March 27, 2015 at 4:21 pm Ken Rogers
“Your comment is awaiting moderation.”
I think what must have happened is that while copying someone’s comment, I inadvertently copied all those previous comments, too, and then pasted them into my reply. Please feel free to delete that monster. 🙂
Ken
William Berry, me too hard left pro labor, lefty. I sometimes get tired of and lose patience with the overly forgiving liberal who is too far above the fray to do any real good. There are times when one MUST fight for what one believes in. These hardcore right wing nuts are not at all inclined to respect the liberal softy any more than they will any liberal of any stripe. Who said “don’t bring a knife to a gun fight”? To those liberals, I say, don’t hold others to a standard that you yourself can’t rise to in every instance.
I always thought the list of occupations that protect their own are, in order:
Attorneys
Cops
Docs
If I were to base my evaluation on our resident fly boy here, I would put pilots @ the top of that list. But, knowing some pilots, I know our guy here is not even close to mainstream. I just spoke to one of these pilot buddies. He is pretty certain it is on the co-pilot. We have another pilot here, Chuck Stanley. His silence is deafening. As I often say, you can learn more from what people don’t say, than from what they do say.
The backdrop that one must understand is the huge civil liability here. Airlines are always out quickly after a large loss like this spinning equipment failure; hoping to pass on @ least part of the liability on the manufacturer. So far, I’ve not seen that. Again, you can tell a lot by what people don’t say.
“Did you mean to say, “perceptive”?”
Don’t flatter yourself.
I mean, wow. Did I say something about self-important?
At least your pretentious “sincerity” is good for a chuckle. You could always step across the ideological divide (if it’s even a thing) and join forces with “yoyoma”. You two would make a great comedy team. Un-intentionally and inadvertently funny is still funny!
[And just to be clear; there is no internecine quarrel on the left here. I take Ken to be a nice, responsible, grownup, decent liberal; I am a born-again hard lefty from a labor activist back-ground: Former USW Amalgamated 7686 president, part-time business agent, organizer, etc. We hard-core lefties dislike “decent, responsible” liberals almost* as much as we dislike right-wing nut-bags.
*Yes, admittedly, that “almost” there is carrying a heavy load!]
Well, in any case, I hope we get final resolution on this terrible tragedy.
As I’ve stated before, it is entirely possible that the co pilot was a homicidal maniac. I just want to be really sure, because the families of all involved need truth and closure. There have certainly been troubling revelations, both regarding the copilot, design of the door, and Airbus’ reliance on technology.
I think the method in the US is best – a crew member sits in the cockpit while one of the pilots is out.
What is really interesting is that they don’t close a tight lid on the investigation abroad like they do here.
The “normal breathing” troubles me, but how was that ascertained? My cousin died many years ago because he waited too long to eject. The younger man in the plane with him literally froze during a total engine failure, and would not respond. My cousin stayed in the plane pleading with him to get out and he himself punched out too low. I am unsure if the other guy ever tried to get out. He didn’t respond with any words, but I doubt he had “normal” breathing or was silent.
Ken Rogers
@ yoyoma
“Gotta love it when the inmates turn on one another.”
That’s interesting that you view yourself as an “inmate,” yoyo.
In what kind of institution
——————————-
Yoyoma aka trooper aka nick is the resident resident… 🙂
@ William Berry
“@Ken:
“Now you’re an Internet psychologist as well.
“Can you try to be a little less boring?”
I’ll try, if you will.
You could start by sharing with me how juxtaposing the definition of projection and your own words, verbatim, is “boring.”
Did you mean to say, “perceptive”?
Perhaps I should clarify what I meant when I suggested that you stay on and make some positive contributions to the discussions here, as that didn’t include writing comments as intellectually impoverished as those favored by the posters of whose comments you were justifiably critical.
.
Knots Berry Farm
Who invited you on tour? Kenny and you don’t have day passes anyway.
yoyoma- are you misspelling Knott’s Berry Farm on purpose?
P.s: Are we having fun yet?
@Ken:
Now you’re an Internet psychologist as well.
Can you try to be a little less boring?
@”yoyoma”:
I have changed my mind about you; you’re a talentless hack.
I am canceling your tour.
Ken
Just visiting you and Knots Berry Farm.
I hear that it’s Mashed Potato Friday. Maybe that’s what has the two of you swinging at one another.
Ah, the simple joys in life.