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Latest updates on the crash

Pilot error

The aircraft flies on autopilot and follows the course inputted into the Flight Management Computer.

These days the captain, despite having several thousand flying hours "on type", does very little manual flying. Modern commercial aircraft are complex computers, monitored by trained pilots.

This does ask questions of a pilot's ability to control an aircraft manually and some in the industry are looking into an area of increasing concern known as "automation addiction".

Planes are so safe and flying is so routine that pilots get very little hands-on experience. But there is nothing to suggest this in this case.

Mechanical failure

The Airbus is a brilliant but complex aircraft. Even starting it up and preparing it for flight requires significant training.