The co-pilot blamed for the crash of Germanwings Flight 4U9525 had been treated in the past after doctors observed suicidal tendencies, officials said Monday.
First Officer Andreas Lubitz received treatment from a psychotherapist before he was given his pilot license "because of what is documented as being suicidal at that time," Dusseldorf prosecutor Christoph Kumpa said.
Last week investigators found torn-up doctor's notes at Lubitz's family home, including one that excused him from work on the day of the crash. Kumpa said the 27-year-old's medical documents did not show an "organic illness," the prosecutor's office said in an accompanying statement, but that "several years ago" Lubitz was observed as suicidal by psychotherapists.
Kumpa said that since then Lubitz had several follow-up appointments with doctors, who documented that he was unable to fly. But these more recent documents showed no hint of Lubitz being suicidal or aggressive, the prosecutor said.
French prosecutors believe Lubitz appears to have deliberately slammed the Airbus A320 into the French Alps while his captain was locked out of the cockpit on Tuesday, killing all 150 aboard.
Officials told NBC News on Monday that Lubitz's "female partner" has been questioned by police.
Kumpa said that there was no evidence Lubitz told anyone or left a letter divulging what he was about to do. He added that investigators had found no motive, "be it personal or his family or his professional surrounding."
A special commission has been established in order to question family and friends and to secure evidence to identify victims, a police spokesman in Duesseldorf told NBC News Monday.
The commission includes around 100 officers from various departments of police in the German state of North Rhein-Westphalia, the police spokesperson added.
