Bahraini’s national carrier will now have two crew members in the cockpit at all times as a safety precaution following a Germanwings crash that killed 150 people last week.

Gulf Air has started implementing the so-called 'rule of two', meaning if one pilot needs to exit the cockpit a flight attendant will enter the cabin until the pilot returns, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

The new rule has been adopted by regulators in Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand following last Tuesday's plane crash, which was heading to Dusseldorf from Barcelona.

Investigations revealed that co-pilot Andreas Lubitz, 27, 'deliberately' plunged the Airbus A320 into the French Alps after locking his captain out of the cockpit.

A Gulf Air official told the GDN yesterday that the airline was 'reviewing' all its safety policies following the incident.

“Regarding the requisite number of Gulf Air staff required in a cockpit at any given time, the airline has reviewed its existing policy and has just introduced a new 'two crew member flight deck procedure’,” said the official.

“According to this, two authorised people will staff the cockpit at all times with designated cabin crew members replacing exiting pilots at any given time.

“In addition to this most recent development, Gulf Air fully supports an international review of cockpit safety procedures.

“In its ongoing commitment to maintaining the highest level of international aviation safety standards and in light of the tragic Germanwings incident, Gulf Air is conducting a thorough review of existing safety measures and policies and procedures.

“This is in addition to the regular safety reviews conducted by the airline annually as it ensures it complies with and operates to the highest standards of world aviation practice.”

European newspapers earlier reported that Lubitz sought psychiatric help for 'a bout of serious depression' in 2009 and was still getting assistance from doctors.

They also claimed he had suicidal tendencies and that he was going through a 'serious crisis' in his relationship with his girlfriend.

Meanwhile, investigators sifting through the wreckage of the doomed Germanwings plane in the French Alps were forced yesterday to resume the hunt on foot as bad weather hampered helicopter flights.

Authorities are hoping to identify more DNA strands from the 150 people who died in the crash, as well as locate the jet's second black box that should provide more clues as to the circumstances of the tragedy.

Forensic teams have isolated almost 80 distinct DNA strands from the pulverised aircraft and have described the grim task as 'unprecedented' given the tricky mountain terrain and the speed at which the plane smashed into the rock. - TradeArabia News Service