Pilots must have regular medical check-ups: UN agency

It has recently emerged that a Germanwings first officer deliberately crashed his plane killing all 150 on board

Pilots must have regular mental and physical check-ups, the UN world aviation body has said, after it emerged that a Germanwings first officer deliberately crashed his plane killing all 150 on board.

All pilots are required to "undergo a periodic medical examination (by a doctor who is trained in aviation medicine) that includes both a physical and a mental assessment," the Montreal-based International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) yesterday said in a statement.

"If there is any concern from this medical screening then a further, more specialized, assessment can be undertaken that may include neuropsychological testing," the UN agency added.

French authorities said the co-pilot of the Germanwings flight appeared to have slammed his Airbus A320 into the French Alps on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old initiated the plane's descent while alone at the controls and refused to open the locked cockpit door for the captain, who was believed to have gone to the toilet.

His motives are yet unexplained.