Germanwings plane crash: Lufthansa introduces 'two person rule' in cockpit following disaster

Co-pilot Andreas Lubitz allegedly locked himself inside flight deck to down flight 9525

French gendarmes and investigators make their way through debris from wreckage on the mountainside at the crash site of an Airbus A320, near Seyne-les-Alpes

Germanwings has followed numerous other airlines to bring in a “two person rule” ensuring no pilot is left alone in the cockpit after Tuesday’s tragedy.

All 150 people on board flight 9525 died when first officer Andreas Lubitz allegedly barricaded himself inside the flight deck and programmed the aircraft to descend towards the French Alps.

The initial findings, announced following analysis of the Airbus A320’s cockpit voice recorder, sparked international scrutiny of airline regulations allowing one person to be left in total control of passenger planes.

Lufthansa, the parent company of Germanwings, announced today that it would be chaging its cockpit regulations.

“Under the new procedure, two authorised persons must be present in the cockpit at all times during a flight,” a statement said.

“The passenger airlines of the Lufthansa Group will adopt the new procedure as soon as possible, in due consultation with their national aviation authority.”

The company has also created the position of Group Safety Pilot, to be assumed with immediate effect by Captain Werner Maas.

Already the safety officer for Lufthansa’s German arm, he will have responsibility for examining and refining all flight safety procedures.

Europe's aviation safety agency is reportedly recommending the measure for airlines across the continent.

The draft recommendation circulating has not yet been approved, according to the Association of European Airlines, consisting of 29 major European carriers.

Ilias Maragakis, a spokesperson for the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), called it “an ongoing process” and all stakeholders will be consulted.

Additional reporting by agencies