European agency proposes tougher medical checks for pilots

The aviation agency recommended strengthening pilots' initial and subsequent medical examinations "by including drugs and alcohol screening, comprehensive mental health assessment, as well as improved follow-up in case of medical history of psychiatric conditions."

The EASA acknowledged that currently aero-medical assessments do not include systematic psychological assessment.

[...] psychological deficiencies ... may remain undetected.

Lufthansa, the parent company of Germanwings, has said Lubitz informed its flight school when he returned from a months-long break in pilot training in 2009 that he had experienced an episode of "severe depression."

According to the French report, Lubitz consulted dozens of doctors about perceived vision troubles and sleeplessness.