Share

Killer pilot Lubitz may have drugged captain

accreditation
Andreas Lubitz competes at the Airportrun in Hamburg, northern Germany. (Michael Mueller, AP)
Andreas Lubitz competes at the Airportrun in Hamburg, northern Germany. (Michael Mueller, AP)

The Germanwings airplane co-pilot Andreas Lubitz, who crashed a passenger jet with 150 people, may have spiked his captain's drink with diuretic drugs, according to a report.

Investigators have found evidence on a laptop found in Lubitz’s apartment that he searched for information for drugs with a diuretic effect, reported a German tabloid newspaper The Express.

It claimed that this could have been used in a drink for Captain Patrick Sondheimer in order to get him to leave the Airbus A320 cockpit, however, the newspaper could not get confirmation from the prosecutor's office about this.

"Diuretic drugs essentially increase urinary output in a person taking them to reduce excess water and salt in the body," said Health24's resident doctor Dr Owen Wiese. "There are various kinds of diuretics, all with different mechanisms."

He said this medication is usually prescribed by a doctor and is used for conditions like blood pressure control and to decrease water retention in the case of heart failure.

Possible side effects

Leg cramps can be a common side effect and the medicine may also alter the rhythm of the heart. Some patients may feel thirsty, dizzy or lethargic. Males may also experience erection problems on diuretics, and gout may be precipitated.

According to Reuters, German prosecutors said the 27-year-old appears to have also researched suicide methods and cockpit door security in the days before he crashed the plane. It provides the first evidence, suggesting that his actions may have been premeditated.

Based on information from the cockpit voice recorder, investigators believe Lubitz, locked his captain out of the Airbus A320 cockpit on March 24 and deliberately slammed the plane into a French mountain.

Also read:

Germanwings crash: Call to stop shaming mental illnesses

Andreas Lubitz: inside the mind of a suicide killer

Could the Germanwings disaster have been prevented?

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE