Airline CEO urges pilots to marry to prevent Germanwings-style disasters

Turkish Airlines' CEO has urged single pilots to get married and claims it could prevent another Germanwings-type disaster from happening.

According to Associated Press, Temel Kotil spoke at an event on Thursday and told new Turkish Airlines pilots that the 24 March crash in the French Alps showed that piloting is critical.

"Our pilot friends, whether they are men or women, their lifestyles are very important," he said.

"The accident there happened, I believe, after the (pilot) separated from his girlfriend," Kotil said. "Therefore, I am guiding those who are single toward marriage from this podium," he added.

As well as encouraging pilots to marry, Kotil also said he wants more women in the cockpits.

"I invite all women who fit the requirements to become pilots," he said.

The Local reports that out of 86 new pilot graduates, only three are women and there are only 40 female pilots in the company out of 4,000 pilots.

Turkish Airlines is one of the fastest growing airlines in the world.

Prosecutors believe Andreas Lubitz, the co-pilot of Germanwings Flight 9525 intentionally crashed the plane and are trying to determine why.

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