IFALPA PR on the Accident Investigation of Germanwings Flight 4U9525

15PRL12 25 March 2015

IFALPA Press Release on the Accident Investigation of Germanwings Flight 4U9525

MONTREAL, Canada – The International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA) would like to express its most sincere condolences to the families of the 144 passengers and 6 crew of Germanwings flight 4U9525 who lost their loved ones in yesterday’s accident in France.

In order to learn from such event and prevent any repetition, IFALPA stresses the need for the technical investigation into the circumstances of this accident to be conducted according to the following principles:

• Such investigation should strictly follow the provisions laid out in ICAO Annex 13. Its objective should be to find the accident's contributing factors and make the necessary safety recommendations.
• It should not be impeded by administrative or judicial proceedings, whose only purpose is to apportion blame or liability.
• Accident investigators should have unhampered access to all evidential material where and whenever available, including the wreckage, flight recorders and ATS records, and unrestricted control over it to ensure that a detailed examination can be made without delay by the relevant safety experts.
• Whilst the investigation is taking place, with the gathering, recording and analysis of all relevant information including statements from witnesses, there should be no disclosure of the accident's details, data or records, in order to avoid misinterpretation of the events that occurred, and early conclusions. Indeed, the premature publication of information related to the accident can compromise flight safety if such information lacks the context of the entire body of factual investigative data. Moreover, none of the accident records should be made available for purposes other than accident or incident investigation.

IFALPA's experts on accident investigation and their operational knowledge of the A320 aircraft are at the disposal of the French Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses pour la sécurité de l'aviation civile (BEA), the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) and any other investigation agency officially involved for advice or consultation during both the investigation process and the drafting of the accident report and related safety recommendations.

IFALPA will closely monitor the investigation to ensure that it is conducted in accordance with the above principles and that all efforts are made to prevent the reoccurrence of such a tragic event.

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Note to Editors: The International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations represents in excess of 100,000 pilots in more than 100 countries world-wide. IFALPA’s mission is to be the global voice of airline pilots, promoting the highest level of aviation safety and security world-wide and providing services, support and representation to all of its Member Associations. See the Federation website www.ifalpa.org

©2015 The International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations In the interests of flight safety, reproduction of this Press Release in whole or in part is encouraged. It may not be offered of sale or used commercially. All reprints must credit IFALPA.

For more information contact Anna Lou, IFALPA Communications & Marketing Coordinator, at tel +1 514 419 1191 or annalou@ifalpa.org