A criminal inquiry had been formally opened by a French prosecutor on Thursday into the Germanwings plane crash in March that killed 150 people. The probe had been to know mistakes were made in monitoring the psychological health of the co-pilot.
According to BBC, the investigation will determine whether or not manslaughter charges can be brought over the crash.
A preliminary report into the crash of the A320 in the French Alps found co-pilot Andreas Lubitz locked the captain out of the cockpit and deliberately steered the plane into a mountain.
Marseille Prosecutor Brice Robin said at a news conference in Paris the investigation will be lead by a panel of three judges tasked with determining if mistakes were made in analysing the mental state of Lubitz.
Prosecutors have found evidence that Lubitz, who had suffered from severe depression, had researched suicide methods and concealed an illness from his employer, prompting airline industry executives to review pilot screening and licensing.
A preliminary report in May confirmed a growing picture of painstaking preparations carried out by Lubitz before the crash. The European Commission has asked the European Aviation Safety Agency to assess the report and will then decide whether to update aviation safety rules.
The French prosecutor said German investigators had confirmed that Lubitz had searched online for drugs such as diazepam, for ways to kill himself and for sight problems.
Bureau Report
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