Mental issue does not disqualify pilots forever

A mental breakdown or a period of depression would not necessarily preclude a pilot from flying a plane in the future, according to European rules.

And the issue of whether there should be one or two pilots in the cockpit at all times was determined by the equipment which was different in an Airbus than in a Boeing plane.

Reports say that Andreas Lubitz, the 27 year old co-pilot on the Germanwings flight, took a six-month break during his training because of psychological problems.