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Co-pilot who crashed flight and killed Wolverhampton father had practised actions earlier

The co-pilot who deliberately crashed the Germanwings Airbus in the French Alps had practised his actions on an earlier flight on the same plane that day, an official accident report has said.

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In the fatal crash, Andreas Lubitz, 27, locked his captain out of the cockpit and put the Airbus A320 into a continual descent, with the plane, en route to Dusseldorf from Barcelona, crashing into a mountain with the loss of all 150 people on board. Among the victims was 50-year-old father-of-two Martyn Matthews from Wolverhampton.

In an interim report, French air accident bureau the BEA said Lubitz repeatedly set the Airbus into a descent then brought it back up again on an earlier flight on the same A320 jet from Dusseldorf to Barcelona on the morning of March 24.

Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz

The report said the other pilot appeared to have left the cockpit during that earlier flight as well.

The BEA said cockpit data showed Lubitz put the earlier flight into descent mode five times in a four-and-a-half-minute period.

The BEA said it is continuing to look at the 'systemic failings that may have led to this accident or similar events'.

Cockpit door security was strengthened on passenger planes after the 9/11 attacks in the US. Evidence has shown that the captain in the Germanwings disaster tried to break down the cockpit door after being locked out.

There have been various reports about Lubitz's mental state and his fitness to fly. The BEA said its main focus was on 'the current balance between medical confidentiality and flight safety' and the 'compromises' made on security after 9/11, notably on cockpit-door locking systems.

Three Britons died in the disaster.

Other than Wolves season ticket holder Mr Matthews, who worked as a senior quality manager at HUF in Tipton, there was Paul Bramley, 28, who was originally from Hull. He was studying hospitality and hotel management at Cesar Ritz College in Lucerne and was about to start an internship.

Also killed was seven-month-old Julian Pracz-Bandres, from Manchester, who died alongside his mother, Spanish-born Marina Bandres Lopez-Belio.

Mr Matthews was honoured during emotional scenes at Molineux ahead of the match with Leeds.

Widow Sharon led the tributes, laying flowers in front of the Steve Bull Stand where her husband was a season ticket holder.

Supporters also came together for an emotional minute's applause at the first home game since the crash.

Speaking publicly for the first time since her husband was killed, Mrs Matthews described Martyn as a "very proud, loving, supportive father".

She revealed the couple were planning a holiday in Barcelona.

She said: "Martyn did not like fuss, he just loved his family, scenery and the wild outdoors.

"He has ended up being involved in one of the biggest of tragedies, one that has touched so many people.

"But, if you saw where he is resting, you would feel the comfort and peace that we did.

"Knowing he is in rugged, beautiful scenery, the kind that he loved so much, helps a little."

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