Germanwings crash victims' families sue German state

More than ten years after the Germanwings Flight 9525 crash in the French Alps, which killed 150 people, a new civil lawsuit has commenced in Braunschweig, Germany. Thirty survivors and relatives are seeking additional compensation from the Federal Republic of Germany, with claims ranging from 500 to 110,000 euros per person.

The plaintiffs allege that the Federal Aviation Office (Luftfahrt-Bundesamt) failed to adequately monitor the flight readiness of co-pilot Andreas Lubitz, who intentionally crashed the aircraft on March 24, 2015. They argue that medical examinations regarding psychiatric health were insufficient and that legal oversight requirements were not met.

During the initial proceedings, the Braunschweig District Court expressed skepticism regarding the success of the claims, suggesting that liability might lie with the airline, Lufthansa, rather than the state. This follows a 2020 ruling where courts determined that flight readiness testing was a state responsibility, creating a complex legal debate over institutional accountability versus private sector liability.