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Germanwings victims honored one year on

Lewis Sanders IV (with dpa, KNA)March 23, 2016

On the eve of the Germanwings crash's one-year anniversary, family members and friends have honored the victims. Authorities recommended new regulatory measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

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Family members and friends lay flowers at plaque commemorating crash victims
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/A. Dalmau

The victims' family members and friends on Wednesday attended a memorial ceremony outside Terminal 2 at Barcelona's international airport on the eve of the Germanwings tragedy's anniversary.

On March 24, 2015, Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz deliberately crashed flight 9525 en route from Barcelona to Düsseldorf into a mountain near the French village Le Vernet, killing all 150 passengers and crew members on board.

"I remember this day with great pain," said Spain's acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. "The best way of honoring the victims is to do everything to make sure that such a catastrophe won't be repeated."

Preventing another tragedy

Following the crash, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) recommended two crew members, including a pilot, remain in the flight crew compartment at all times.

The EASA's suggestion was a response to co-pilot Lubtiz locking himself in the cockpit, alone, after the pilot exited the compartment. He then proceeded to reset the aircraft's altitude levels to ensure a collision with the ground. On longer-haul flights, a cabin crew member must go into the cockpit if one of the pilots leaves.

Earlier this month, French aviation investigators revealed that a German doctor referred Lubitz to a psychiatric clinic two weeks prior to the crash. However, the co-pilot intentionally withheld the information from his employer.

In their report on the crash, the investigators recommended clearer regulatory measures regarding medical nondisclosure of a pilot's mental health history to prevent a similar tragedy.

Moment of silence

Meanwhile, the mayor of the German town Haltern am See said a minute of silence would be observed at 10:41 am local time (0941 UTC/GMT) after which a memorial ceremony would be held at a local church. Sixteen high school students and two teachers from Haltern am See's Joseph-König Gymnasium were killed in the crash.

A plaque was also unveiled at Düsseldorf airport commemorating the lives of those lost in the tragedy, reported public broadcaster WDR. A memorial service with families of the victims will be held on Thursday near the crash site.