Germanwings crash: Pilot was told to seek psychiatric treatment

A laywer representing the families of three Britons killed in the Germanwings crash have welcomed calls for new rules on reporting pilot mental health issues.

French investigators announced today they want medical professionals to warn authorities when a pilot's mental health could threaten public safety.

Their report on the crash, in which 150 people died, has been welcomed by specialist aviation lawyer Jim Morris.

"We need clear and consistent guidelines in Europe and internationally on where the threat to public safety outweighs medical confidentiality for pilots - so the BEA safety recommendations are welcomed", he said.

Paul Bramley, 28, Martyn Matthews, 50, and seven month-old Julian Pracz-Bandres were among the dead.

French accident investigation agency BEA has recommended more medical checks for pilots following its investigation into the Germanwings crash in March 2015.

The announcement comes after it was revealed pilot Andreas Lubitz, who deliberately flew the aircraft into the French Alps, was told to seek psychiatric treatment just two weeks before.

A doctor said Lubitz, who died alongside 150 passengers, should be treated at a psychiatric hospital before the crash on 24 March.

BEA Director Remi Jouty said Lubitz began showing symptoms that could be consistent with a psychotic depressive episode in December 2014 and consulted several doctors over the following months, none of whom alerted aviation authorities or his employer.

Families of the victims were previously Lubitz had seen 41 doctors in recent years but under German law none was able to alert his employers to his state of mind.

The BEA said because Lubitz had not informed anyone about the doctors' warnings, "no action could have been taken by the authorities or his employer to prevent him from flying".