Citing Germanwings Crash, DOT To Review Airline Security

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NBC News is reporting that the U.S. Department of Transportation will review airline security, at the request of U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).

The request, sent in a letter from the DOT to the Federal Aviation Administration, comes in the aftermath of the crash of a Germanwings plane, which French officials believe was intentionally caused by co-pilot Andreas Lubitz. Investigators believe he deliberately locked the captain out of the cockpit and flew the plane into the side of the French Alps, killing all 150 on board in March.

According to NBC, the audit will look at whether security and hiring standards are stringent enough to prevent a similar tragedy, and "what steps FAA takes to evaluate the psychological health of pilots," according to the letter.

NBC said the letter sent to the FAA also made reference to a 2012 incident in which a JetBlue pilot ran through a plane's cabin yelling about Jesus and the terror group al Qaeda before he was restrained by passengers.

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