The European Union’s aviation safety agency recommended Friday that airlines always have two people in the cockpit of a flying aircraft after it emerged that the co-pilot of Germanwings Flight 9525 had apparently locked himself in alone to crash the plane.

European airlines, such as the Lufthansa Group that includes Germanwings, were already committing to impose the measure as soon as possible. And recommendations by the European Aviation Safety Agency are usually strictly followed even if they have no mandatory power.

EASA Executive Director Patrick Ky said that “while we are still mourning the victims, all our efforts focus on improving the safety and security of passengers and crews.” It was the first concrete EU action on airline safety following Monday’s crash.

In the temporary recommendation, the EASA said airlines had to make sure “at least two crew, including at least one qualified pilot, are in the flight crew compartment at all times of the flight.”

Before the recommendation, Lufthansa said it would move to the two-person rule “as soon as possible” across its airlines, which besides Germanwings also includes Austrian Airlines and Swiss Air. Brussels Airlines, which is aligned with Lufthansa also joined.

German airline Germania, Hungary-based low-cost airline Wizz Air and Belgian tour operator Thomas Cook said earlier Friday they had adopted the policy. On Thursday, EasyJet and Norwegian Air Shuttle had said they would adopt the rule.

With the EASA advice, the rule should quickly become ubiquitous across the 28-nation EU. “If we do publish a recommendation, it is not easily ignored,” said EASA spokesman Ilias Maragakis.

Following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, U.S. airlines revamped their policies regarding staffing in the cockpit. But the procedure is not standard in Europe or Canada. Air Canada said it would adopt the rule.

SOURCE AP/YAHOO, Read more..