A decade after the Germanwings crash killed 150 people, aviation regulators tightened pilot mental health screening with annual psychological tests and background checks for extremist sympathies. Despite these measures, pilots and experts say current systems rely heavily on self-reporting and may fail to detect those developing severe mental health issues or extremist views over long careers. Pilots often prepare for check-ups to appear fit, fearing loss of medical certification if they disclose struggles.
While some say interventions after whistleblowing help struggling crew, others argue safety stems from broader training and professionalism, not psychological testing alone. The recent alleged co-pilot attack on Flydubai flight 1073 has renewed scrutiny over monitoring pilots’ mental fitness to fly.
Source: Financial Times Companies · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing