Lessons from Flight 9525-the Airbus A 320

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Lessons from Flight 9525-the Airbus A 320

Alen J Salerian MD

March 27, 2015

Suicide –  homicide seems to have doomed the lives of some 150 passengers and crew aboard flight 9525 that crashed into the French ON March 25, 2017. As a forensic psychiatrist I have my own list of questions: 1.are pilots routinely check for depression?

2.  Are pilots allowed to take antidepressants? 3 Are depressed pilots  in need of antidepressants have any other choice but to give up their jobs and income?

I know in America the answer is no to all three questions. Regardless flight 9525 joins at least two other major commercial airline crashes that were found to be caused by suicide – homicide by depressed pilots…

This seems to be an opportunity to review all the policies about safety in the air including screening for depression and allowing pilots to take antidepressants if  necessary.