Report: Terrifying Final Seconds of Germanwings Flight Captured on Video
French magazine Paris Match and German newspaper Bild have reportedly obtained a cell phone video taken during the final seconds of doomed Germanwings Flight 9525. According to the publications, cries of "My god!" can be heard in several languages before screaming intensifies and then, following a loud bang, silence.
The cell phone video matches the recording from the flight's cockpit voice recorder, a copy of which was also obtained by Paris Match.
Transcripts of the recording show that communication between Captain Patrick Sondenheimer and co-pilot Andreas Lubitz was normal until about 28 minutes after take off, when Sondenheimer goes to use the bathroom and tells Lubitz, "You are in control now."
"I hope so," Lubitz replies with what Paris Match described as a "seemingly light tone of voice."
Within two minutes of Sondenheimer leaving the cockpit, Lubitz locks the door and reprograms the autopilot to descent. One minute later radio control is heard speaking Lubitz, followed by the locked-out captain, who after trying to reach the co-pilot via a camera connected to the cockpit attempts to smash in the door with a fire extinguisher while yelling, "For the love of God, open this door!"
10:34 approximately
A first alarm goes off, audible and visual: "SINK RATE, PULL UP."
No reaction from Lubitz.
Through the cockpit door, the first sounds of passengers running in the aisles can be heard.
10:35
The captain asks for the crowbar hidden in the back of the plane. Louder bangs can be heard hitting the door, followed by metallic sounds. The captain tries to bend the door with the crowbar.
10:37 and several seconds
A second alarm is set off, audible and visual: "TERRAIN, PULL UP." Still no reaction from Lubitz.
The captain yells: "Open this f… door!"
10:38
Despite the deafening noises, Lubitz's breathing can cleary be heard through an oxygen mask he put on. He is breathing normally. The plane is at 13000 feet (4000 meters).
10:40
A violent sound can be heard outside. At the same time, inside, screaming. The Airbus hits the mountain with its right wing.
No other sound, save for the alarms and the screaming passengers.
One minute later, the plane crashed into Estrop mountain range, killing all 150 on board.