Crash pilot showed suicidal tendencies in past: prosecutors

The co-pilot believed to have deliberately crashed a Germanwings plane was treated for suicidal tendencies "several years ago", before he received his pilot's licence, German prosecutors said Monday.

"In the ensuing years and up until recently, he had doctors' visits and was written off sick but showed no sign of suicidal tendencies or aggression towards others," said Ralf Herrenbrueck, spokesman for the prosecutor's office in the western city of Duesseldorf.

He said in a statement that prosecutors would "not take part in speculation about the deceased co-pilot's motives".

Herrenbrueck said based on the evaluation of medical documents and the testimony of people who knew the co-pilot, Andreas Lubitz, there was still no indication that he had told anyone of his plans or left behind a suicide note.

"Nor have particular circumstances been identified in his personal or professional environment to offer verifiable evidence about a possible motive," he said.

Medical files did not point to any "organic disorder", Herrenbrueck said.

But he added that Lubitz underwent psychotherapy several years ago, before he became a pilot in 2013, "for a long period due to diagnosed suicidal tendencies".

However doctors treating him recently found no sign he intended to hurt himself or others, Herrenbrueck said.