jaredsxtn Wrote: A Germanwings airplane carrying 150 people crashed in the French Alps this morning, likely killing all on board. The flight was en route to Dusseldorf, Germany, but lost contact roughly forty minutes into the flight.Officials have said they are nearly certain that no one would survive a crash like this and don't expect to find any survivors. The flight records show that 45 Spanish and 67 German nationals, including 16 German students returning from an exchange trip to Spain were on board.German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke about the tragedy shortly after it was reported and said that she will be visiting the crash site tomorrow. You can watch her full statement below:
Schmidt Wrote: In reading the Daily Mail, one popular theory is that the windshield cracked incapacitating the pilots.Daily Mail, Did Germanwings plane windscreen CRACK? The article also shows photos of the badly damaged voice recorder.
Schmidt Wrote: With the NYT report that the pilot was locked out of the cockpit by the other pilot, it explains a lot of things but also raises new questions. It sounds like it could be more sinister. This will drag on. Speculation will continue.
TJ Wrote: Yes Dutch, I am all for making it GWB's fault. This will likely cause a major "Rules" change. Other pilots on the news last night said that in the US if one of the two pilots leave the cockpit they must have a flight attendant take their place until they return. This is in case the other pilot has a heart attack or some other extreme medical condition where they lose control. Thus leaving another who can open the door. I expect this will become a new international standard after this incident.
Lionpilot Wrote: There is one very easy, inexpensive, way to prevent this tragedy. Civilian pilots like myself, and military pilots, never leave their seats to go pee. Instead we use something called a "relief tube." This is basically an external catheter attached to a tube leading down to a container. Peeing is easy while we are seated. Once relieved we carry on flying. Simple and inexpensive fix.