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Germanwings Co-Pilot Was Referred To Mental Health Clinic Before Crash

The final report into last year's fatal Germanwings crash has investigators calling for more detailed medical exams for pilots.

Germanwings Co-Pilot Was Referred To Mental Health Clinic Before Crash
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SMS

Weeks before a Germanwings co-pilot crashed a commuter plane into the French Alps, he was apparently told to go to a psychiatric clinic.

That's according to findings from France's Civil Aviation Safety Investigation Authority, which believes 27-year-old Andreas Lubitz intentionally crashed the flight last year. 

The final report into the crash was released Sunday. In it, investigators called for doctors to weigh out the safety risks of their patients' conditions. 

They also called for more detailed medical exams for pilots — especially exams evaluating the risk of mental illness. 

Airlines have strict guidelines when it comes to the mental health of pilots — but Germanwings was left in the dark about Lubitz's mental health because of patient confidentiality laws.

Last year, officials said Lubitz was suffering from depression and on medication at the time of the crash.

Investigators have not released a motivation for the crash that killed 150 people but have determined that at least one doctor found Lubitz "unfit to work" before the crash. 

This video includes images from Getty Images.