The apparently deliberate crashing of a packed Germanwings jet by a pilot who had previously experienced suicidal tendencies has triggered debate about whether airlines should get access to the medical history of their employees. Andreas Lubitz, 27, who suffered episodes of severe depression during his brief career, had been excused from work by doctors for an unspecified illness on the day he plowed Flight 4U9525 into the French Alps — a fact he concealed from the airline, according to prosecutors. Pilots face regular physical testing but are often expected to self-declare illnesses such as addiction or depression. German lawmaker Dick Fischer, transport spokesman for Angela Merkel's CDU party, is calling for airlines to have mandatory access to the medical records of all pilots.
