Belgian tour operator confirms pilot safety rules

Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium has said it will enforce "in the immediate future" the continued presence of two crew members in the cockpit of all aircraft operating under its services, Belgian media reported Friday.

The Belgian tour operator requires a hostess or steward to be present in the cabin during the absence of a pilot.

This comes after the fatal crash of the Germanwings aircraft in the French Alps while on its way from Barcelona to Duesseldorf on Tuesday.

The crash occurred after the co-pilot locked the pilot out of the cockpit and appeared to intentionally start a descent of the plane, investigators have said. All 150 passengers and crew on board are believed to be killed.

Following the disaster, several airlines announced they were revising their safety procedures, making it obligatory for more than one crew member to be in the cockpit at any given time.

Brussels Airlines has so far not stated if it will change its safety rules. A statement on the airline website said it "is waiting to see what the European authorities will say." Endit