Co-pilot Andreas Lubitz searched internet for suicide information

Andreas Lubitz used a tablet device to search for information on suicide and cockpit door security in the days leading up to the Germanwings plane crash that killed all 150 people on board.

Dusseldorf prosecutors said that an examination of a tablet device recovered from Lubitz's home revealed internet searches for suicide methods. On at least one day, Lubitz also spent several minutes searching for information about cockpit doors and their security procedures, prosecutors said.

Lubitz also searched for information on medical treatment in the week prior to the crash.

Prosecutors said they would not reveal the specific search terms he had used, but confirmed that Lubitz had not deleted the search history on the device.

The revelations are likely to strengthen confidence in French prosecutors' initial findings that Lubitz deliberately crashed the Germanwings jet.

In the days since the tragedy, investigators have slowly pieced together a psychological profile of 27-year-old Lubitz, who dreamed from a young age of becoming a pilot but was later forced to break off his training due to illness.

Lufthansa confirmed earlier this week that Lubitz had sent an email to its pilot training school in 2009 revealing that he had previously suffered an episode of severe depression. However, Lufthansa did not say when this occurred or what the training centre did with the information.

Lubitz underwent psychotherapy several years ago when doctors diagnosed suicidal tendencies and he subsequently saw neurologists and psychiatrists.

Nevertheless, he was passed as fit to continue his training and started work as a co-pilot in 2013.

Local media claim that in the months leading up to the crash he became worried that his eyesight was deteriorating, which might have put an end to his flying career. However, prosecutors have not confirmed this.

Lubitz had a sick note excusing him from work on the day of the crash but he elected not to tell his employer and reported for duty.

French investigators hope to uncover information on the plane's exact movements in the lead-up to the crash from a second black box which has now been recovered from the mountainside.

The first black box, a voice recorder that documented the pilot's unsuccessful attempt to re-enter the cockpit, was recovered and analysed last week.

German authorities said on Thursday they would form an expert group to learn lessons from the disaster.

The working group, which is set to include industry representatives, will review issues such as cockpit door procedures as well as medical and psychological checks on pilots.

Lufthansa, the parent company of Germanwings, has come under pressure to explain why it was unaware of its pilot's health troubles. The airline said Lubitz passed all necessary health checks and to their knowledge was "100 per cent fit to fly".

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