What happened
On March 24, 2015, an Airbus A320-211, registration D-AIPX, operated by Germanwings, crashed into the French Alps near Prads-Haute-Bléone during a scheduled flight from Barcelona to Düsseldorf. The aircraft was cruising at 38,000 feet when the commander left the cockpit, leaving the co-pilot alone in the flight deck.
Shortly after the commander's departure, the selected altitude on the autopilot control panel was changed from 38,000 feet to 100 feet. This action triggered an automated descent in "OPEN DES" mode with engines at idle. As the aircraft descended, the co-pilot manually increased the selected speed toward the maximum operational limit of 350 knots.
During the descent, air traffic controllers in Marseille attempted to contact the crew eleven times across three different frequencies, but received no response. Flight attendants in the cabin attempted to gain entry to the cockpit via the keypad and by knocking on the door, but the door remained locked. The aircraft' and cockpit voice recorders captured sounds of heavy knocking and calls for entry from the cabin crew. Approximately one minute before impact, the Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) activated with "Terrain, Terrain, Pull Up" alerts. The aircraft struck the terrain at 09:41 UTC, resulting in 144 fatalities among the passengers and 6 fatalities among the crew, and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The BEA investigation focused on the flight data, cockpit voice recordings, and the sequence of events leading to the impact. Investigators analyzed the flight management systems, the cockpit door locking mechanism, and the communication between the cabin and the flight deck. The investigation also examined the flight history, noting that similar altitude selections to 100 feet had occurred during a previous flight when the co-pilot was alone in the cockpit. The investigation also looked into the medical and psychological fitness of the crew and the security protocols regarding cockpit access.
Findings
Preliminary findings establish that the co-pilot intentionally commanded a descent to 100 feet while alone in the cockpit. The investigation established that the cockpit door remained locked despite repeated attempts by the cabin crew to enter. The investigation also noted that the aircraft's engines were at idle and the autopilot remained engaged throughout the descent, following the manually selected altitude and speed changes.