Philippines sets two crew in cockpit rule after German tragedy

The Philippines has become the latest country to require two airline crew in the cockpit at all times, a statement announced, after the co-pilot of a German plane deliberately crashed it last month.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines announced its decision after investigators concluded co-pilot Andreas Lubitz intentionally smashed a Germanwings flight into the French Alps after locking his colleague out of the cockpit, killing all 150 people on board.

"For aircraft certified for two pilots, a flight crew-member, preferably male but not necessarily a pilot, shall be required to be inside the flight deck should one of the pilots leave the flight deck for personal reasons," the regulation read.

The authority's director-general, William Hotchkiss said all air operators must revise their operations manuals to comply with the new regulation.

Numerous airlines worldwide have introduced a two-person rule since the March 24 tragedy.

French air crash investigators announced on Friday that information from the doomed plane's flight data recorder had confirmed their earlier findings that the co-pilot acted deliberately.