Co - pilot Andreas Lubitz wrote up a sick note declaring him unfit to fly . these laws mean doctors should not send medical information directly to Lufthansa . In both Europe and the UK , doctors are supposed to tell airlines if they have health problems , but this is not policed . A British air safety expert said , ' the door is open for someone who has serious mental illness to hide it from the aviation examiner '
Co-pilot Andreas Lubitz tore up a sick note declaring him unfit to fly . Confidentiality laws mean doctors could not disclose medical information directly to Lufthansa . In both Europe and the UK , pilots are supposed to tell airlines if they have health problems , but this is not policed . A British air safety expert said , 'the door is open for someone who has serious mental problems to hide it from the aviation examiner '