France opens judicial investigation into Germanwings crash that killed 150

PARIS – A French prosecutor says a judicial investigation has begun into the Germanwings jet crash that killed all 150 people on board.

Brice Robin, the Marseille prosecutor in charge of the original probe, said the independent judicial inquiry started late Wednesday in an involuntary manslaughter case, allowing investigating magistrates free rein to look into any person, company or public agency in France, Germany or elsewhere who might have been responsible.

The co-pilot of the flight slammed the jet into the Alps on March 24. Investigators say Andreas Lubitz locked the pilot out of the cockpit and flew the plane into the French mountainside after researching suicide methods and cockpit door rules and practicing an unusual descent. Lubitz, who had a history of depression and medical issues, was cleared to fly.