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Germanwings co-pilot 'tried out' descent on previous flight

An interim report to be published today says Andreas Lubitz practiced a descent on a previous outbound flight.

THE CO-PILOT WHO is believed to have deliberately crashed a Germanwings jet in the French Alps may have “rehearsed” steering the plane into a rapid descent on an earlier flight, German daily Bild reported today.

Quoting sources close to the French investigating authorities, the newspaper said that the co-pilot, 27-year-old Andreas Lubitz, appeared to have tried out a “controlled, minute-long descent for which there was no aeronautical reason” on the earlier outbound flight from Duesseldorf to Barcelona.

Investigators had discovered this after a close evaluation of the jet’s black-box flight recorder, Bild said.

France Plane Crash Recovery A rescue worker is lifted into a helicopter at the crash site. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

The French authorities are scheduled to publish an interim report on their investigation into the crash later today.

The Germanwings Airbus 320 was en route from Barcelona to Duesseldorf when it crashed in the French Alps on March 24, killing all 150 people on board.

French investigators believe that Lubitz, who had been diagnosed as suicidal in the past, deliberately brought the plane down.

France Plane Crash Flags representing different nations are deployed during an homage ceremony with family members of victims. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Doctors had recently found no sign that he intended to hurt himself or others, but he was receiving treatment from neurologists and psychiatrists who had signed him off sick from work a number of times, including on the day of the crash.

Police found torn-up sick notes during a search of his apartment after the crash.

- © AFP, 2015 

Read: ‘A deranged pilot flying his nation into the rocks’ – Obama compared to Andreas Lubitz>

Read: Lufthansa gives emails on Germanwings co-pilot’s depression to investigators>

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    Mute Judge_n_Jury
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    Dec 10th 2013, 4:45 PM

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    Dec 10th 2013, 5:13 PM

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    Dec 10th 2013, 4:38 PM

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    Dec 10th 2013, 5:57 PM

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    Dec 10th 2013, 4:39 PM

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    Mute i want to be frank !
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    Dec 10th 2013, 7:15 PM

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    Mute Kevin Brady
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    Dec 10th 2013, 5:59 PM

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    Mute Oisín Tarrant
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    Dec 10th 2013, 5:04 PM

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    Mute Larry Bird
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    Mute alanobrien
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    Dec 10th 2013, 8:39 PM

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