(Bloomberg) -- Deutsche Lufthansa AG may face unlimited liability for payments to families of victims of the Germanwings jet crashed by its suicidal co-pilot, according to lawyers.
“The liability for the victims would be uncapped,” said George Leloudas, a lecturer at Swansea University College of Law who specializes in aviation law. “From the perspective of the airline it’s difficult. There are no real defenses that you can use. It is irrational. That is why you buy insurance.”
The crash on Tuesday, killing all 150 passengers and crew, mystified investigators because the plane flew in normal daylight conditions and had undergone routine checks. French investigators Thursday said Andreas Lubitz, the 27-year-old co-pilot of the plane, allegedly locked the pilot out of the cockpit and intentionally flew the aircraft into a mountainside in the French Alps.
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