Fear and Depression in Düsseldorf

Benji Newman

I am terrified of flying.  When the plane begins to accelerate and my body is forced upright in the seat, I have a mini panic attack.  Then the plane levels out, the pilot informs the cabin that we have reached cruising altitude, and I can relax.  My fear has grown and been assuaged at different points in my life.  Even before the Malaysia Airlines flight went missing almost a year ago, I was never going to fly in that region of the world due to Lost.  That being said, the most recent crash has not made me more fearful of flying.

The crash of Germanwings Flight 9525 was entirely preventable.  New regulations have already been put in place in Germany that require two people to be in the cockpit at all times, so that no one person can take over like co-pilot, Andreas Lubitz, did.  This regulation already exists in the United States, but now I know that my flights to, from, or through Germany will be just as safe.  While the co-pilot should not have been left alone at the controls, another regulation should have prevented him from flying in the first place.

Society has stigmatized and pushed away those who suffer, and now 150 innocent people are dead because of our mark that the mentally ill carry.  Recent reports out of Germany have indicated that Mr. Lubitz had been suffering from depression, which may or may not have been a fact known to his employer, Lufthansa Airlines, or his colleagues.  He had been previously treated for suicidal tendencies, and Lufthansa knew about this after he requested to rejoin the pilot training program after missing for a month due to “a severe depressive episode.”  It is unclear though if the airline knew of his recent struggles.  

Lubitz should not have been at the helm of the plane that day, and doctor’s notes found in his apartment suggest as much.  His doctors would not have been able to tell his employer about his condition due to severe privacy laws that exist in Germany, yet it should not have come down to the self-reporting of a sickness to prevent him from being able to fly.  Pilots are required to have a physical once a year, so why are they not asked to be psychologically evaluated as well?  Not just pilots, but train conductors, bus drivers, and anyone else who regularly controls the fate of other people as their profession should be mandated to meet with a psychiatrist, psychologist, or social worker once every four months.  It will allow the person to speak with a professional about their lives, which will at least give them time to unload any of their stresses onto someone else, who will not reveal their secrets.  This incident in France was tragic to say the least, but maybe it will allow us to start talking about mental illness.  We have the ability to prevent suicides caused by depression, so let’s act before something like this can happen again.

Born and raised in the melting pot that is New York City, Benji Newman has always enjoyed being immersed in different cultures. He has studied, worked, and traveled all over Europe and hopes to visit South America in the near future. Graduating from the University of Michigan this spring, he will continue his studies in the fall by attending a Master's of International Economics and Affairs program.

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