The Germanwings co-pilot thought to have deliberately caused the French Alps plane disaster "rehearsed" his plan on an earlier flight on the day of the crash, an accident report is expected to say.
All 150 people on the Airbus A320, including three Britons, were killed when it crashed while flying from Barcelona to Dusseldorf on March 24.
Recovered voice recorder evidence points to the plane's co-pilot Andreas Lubitz, 27, locking the captain out of the cockpit and putting the plane into a steady descent.
Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz is thought to have rehearsed his suicide crash earlier in the day, a report is expected to reveal
According to German newspaper Bild, an interim report from French air accident bureau the BEA will say that Lubitz had practised reducing flight altitude on the outbound flight from Dusseldorf to Barcelona on March 24.
Bild said the BEA report would talk about a "controlled descent that lasted for minutes and for which there was no aeronautical justification".
Lubitz suffered from severe depression in the past and a computer found in his home showed he had used the internet to research ways of committing suicide in the days leading up to the crash.
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Germanwings plane crash
Andreas Lubitz(01 of31)
Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz (credit:Getty)
FRANCE-GERMANY-SPAIN-AVIATION-ACCIDENT(02 of31)
Journalists film as people pay tribute to the victims of a Germanwings flight that crashed in the French Alps, killing all 150 aboard, on March 28, 2015 at a memorial in le Vernet, south-eastern France, near the site of the crash. French prosecutors believe that co-pilot Andreas Lubitz locked his captain out of the cockpit and deliberately flew Flight 4U 9525 into a mountainside near Seyne. AFP PHOTO / JEFF PACHOUD (Photo credit should read JEFF PACHOUD/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JEFF PACHOUD via Getty Images)
FRANCE-GERMANY-SPAIN-AVIATION-ACCIDENT(03 of31)
A helicopter of the French gendarmerie flies over Seyne-les-Alpes on March 28, 2015, near the site where a Germanwings flight crashed in the French Alps, killing all 150 aboard. French prosecutors believe that co-pilot Andreas Lubitz locked his captain out of the cockpit and deliberately flew Flight 4U 9525 into a mountainside near Seyne. AFP PHOTO / JEFF PACHOUD (Photo credit should read JEFF PACHOUD/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JEFF PACHOUD via Getty Images)
GERMANY-FRANCE-SPAIN-AVIATION-ACCIDENT(04 of31)
Picture taken on March 28, 2015 shows the full-page notice of condolence from German airlines Lufthansa /Germanwings for the victims of the Germanwings plane crash printed in today's edition of the German daily newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) in Berlin. French prosecutors believe that co-pilot Andreas Lubitz locked his captain out of the cockpit and deliberately flew Flight 4U 9525 into a mountainside. AFP PHOTO / DAVID GANNON (Photo credit should read DAVID GANNON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:DAVID GANNON via Getty Images)
Relatives Remember The Victims of Germanwings Airbus Flight Near To The Crash Site(05 of31)
LA VERNET, FRANCE - MARCH 28: Relatives stand at a monument to honour the victims of Germanwings flight 4U9525 in front of the mountains near the crash site on March 26, 2015 in Le Vernet, France. France. French authorities confirmed that Andreas Lubitz was alone in the cockpit during the rapid descent of flight 4U9525 until it crashed into mountains in southern France four days ago, killing all 150 people on board. Lubitz hid signs of illness and it is thought he acted deliberately in steering the aircraft to its destruction. (Photo by Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images) (credit:Thomas Lohnes via Getty Images)
Relatives Remember The Victims of Germanwings Airbus Flight Near To The Crash Site(06 of31)
LA VERNET, FRANCE - MARCH 28: A relative stands at a monument to honour the victims of Germanwings flight 4U9525 in front of the mountains near the crash site on March 26, 2015 in Le Vernet, France. France. French authorities confirmed that Andreas Lubitz was alone in the cockpit during the rapid descent of flight 4U9525 until it crashed into mountains in southern France four days ago, killing all 150 people on board. Lubitz hid signs of illness and it is thought he acted deliberately in steering the aircraft to its destruction. (Photo by Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images) (credit:Thomas Lohnes via Getty Images)
Relatives Remember The Victims of Germanwings Airbus Flight Near To The Crash Site(07 of31)
LA VERNET, FRANCE - MARCH 28: Relatives stand at a monument to honour the victims of Germanwings flight 4U9525 in front of the mountains near the crash site on March 26, 2015 in Le Vernet, France. France. French authorities confirmed that Andreas Lubitz was alone in the cockpit during the rapid descent of flight 4U9525 until it crashed into mountains in southern France four days ago, killing all 150 people on board. Lubitz hid signs of illness and it is thought he acted deliberately in steering the aircraft to its destruction. (Photo by Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images) (credit:Thomas Lohnes via Getty Images)
Local People Remember The Victims of Germanwings Airbus Flight Near To The Crash Site(08 of31)
DIGNE-LES-BAINS, FRANCE - MARCH 28: Candles for the victims of Germanwings Airbus fight sit on a table during a church service at the altar at the cathedral 'Notre Dame du Bourg' on March 28, 2015 in Digne-les-Bains, France. French authorities confirmed that Andreas Lubitz was alone in the cockpit during the rapid descent of flight 4U9525 until it crashed into mountains in southern France four days ago, killing all 150 people on board. Lubitz hid signs of illness and it is thought he acted deliberately in steering the aircraft to its destruction. (Photo by Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images) (credit:Thomas Lohnes via Getty Images)
Recovery Operations Resume At Crash Site Of Germanwings Flight 4U9525(09 of31)
SEYNE, FRANCE - MARCH 29: Rescue workers and gendarmerie continue their search operation near the site of the Germanwings plane crash on March 29, 2015 in Seyne les Alpes, France. French authorities confirmed that co-pilot Andreas Lubitz was alone in the cockpit during the rapid descent of flight 4U9525 until it crashed into mountains in southern France four days ago, killing all 150 people on board. Lubitz hid signs of illness and it is thought he acted deliberately in steering the aircraft to its destruction. (Photo by Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images) (credit:Thomas Lohnes via Getty Images)
Recovery Operations Resume At Crash Site Of Germanwings Flight 4U9525(10 of31)
SEYNE, FRANCE - MARCH 29: Rescue workers and gendarmerie continue their search operation near the site of the Germanwings plane crash on March 29, 2015 in Seyne les Alpes, France. French authorities confirmed that co-pilot Andreas Lubitz was alone in the cockpit during the rapid descent of flight 4U9525 until it crashed into mountains in southern France four days ago, killing all 150 people on board. Lubitz hid signs of illness and it is thought he acted deliberately in steering the aircraft to its destruction. (Photo by Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images) (credit:Thomas Lohnes via Getty Images)
Recovery Operations Resume At Crash Site Of Germanwings Flight 4U9525(11 of31)
SEYNE, FRANCE - MARCH 29: Rescue workers and gendarmerie continue their search operation near the site of the Germanwings plane crash on March 29, 2015 in Seyne les Alpes, France. French authorities confirmed that co-pilot Andreas Lubitz was alone in the cockpit during the rapid descent of flight 4U9525 until it crashed into mountains in southern France four days ago, killing all 150 people on board. Lubitz hid signs of illness and it is thought he acted deliberately in steering the aircraft to its destruction. (Photo by Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images) (credit:Thomas Lohnes via Getty Images)
Recovery Operations Resume At Crash Site Of Germanwings Flight 4U9525(12 of31)
SEYNE, FRANCE - MARCH 29: A trail in the blue sky over the mountains left by airplanes near the site of the Germanwings plane crash on March 29, 2015 in Seyne les Alpes, France. French authorities confirmed that co-pilot Andreas Lubitz was alone in the cockpit during the rapid descent of flight 4U9525 until it crashed into mountains in southern France four days ago, killing all 150 people on board. Lubitz hid signs of illness and it is thought he acted deliberately in steering the aircraft to its destruction. (Photo by Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images) (credit:Thomas Lohnes via Getty Images)
Recovery Operations Resume At Crash Site Of Germanwings Flight 4U9525(13 of31)
SEYNE, FRANCE - MARCH 29: Trails in the blue sky over the mountains left by airplanes near the site of the Germanwings plane crash on March 29, 2015 in Seyne les Alpes, France. French authorities confirmed that co-pilot Andreas Lubitz was alone in the cockpit during the rapid descent of flight 4U9525 until it crashed into mountains in southern France four days ago, killing all 150 people on board. Lubitz hid signs of illness and it is thought he acted deliberately in steering the aircraft to its destruction. (Photo by Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images) (credit:Thomas Lohnes via Getty Images)
Recovery Operations Resume At Crash Site Of Germanwings Flight 4U9525(14 of31)
SEYNE, FRANCE - MARCH 29: A trail in the blue sky over the mountains left by airplanes near the site of the Germanwings plane crash on March 29, 2015 in Seyne les Alpes, France. French authorities confirmed that co-pilot Andreas Lubitz was alone in the cockpit during the rapid descent of flight 4U9525 until it crashed into mountains in southern France four days ago, killing all 150 people on board. Lubitz hid signs of illness and it is thought he acted deliberately in steering the aircraft to its destruction. (Photo by Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images) (credit:Thomas Lohnes via Getty Images)
FRANCE-GERMANY-SPAIN-AVIATION-ACCIDENT(15 of31)
Germanwings chief operating officer (COO) and member of the board Oliver Wagner arrives for a press conference on March 30, 2015 in Marseille, southern France about the creation of a family assistance center for the relatives of victims of a Germanwings flight that crashed in the French Alps, killing all 150 aboard. French prosecutors believe that co-pilot Andreas Lubitz locked his captain out of the cockpit and deliberately flew Flight 4U 9525 into a mountainside near Seyne-les-Alpes. AFP PHOTO / BERTRAND LANGLOIS (Photo credit should read BERTRAND LANGLOIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:BERTRAND LANGLOIS via Getty Images)
FRANCE-GERMANY-SPAIN-AVIATION-ACCIDENT(16 of31)
Germanwings' chief operating officer (COO) and member of the board Oliver Wagner (R) and Lufthansa's media relation officer Boris Ogursky hold a press conference on March 30, 2015 in Marseille, southern France, about the creation of an assistance center for the relatives and friends of victims of a Germanwings flight that crashed in the French Alps, killing all 150 aboard. French prosecutors believe that co-pilot Andreas Lubitz locked his captain out of the cockpit and deliberately flew Flight 4U 9525 into a mountainside near Seyne-les-Alpes. AFP PHOTO / BERTRAND LANGLOIS (Photo credit should read BERTRAND LANGLOIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:BERTRAND LANGLOIS via Getty Images)
FRANCE-GERMANY-SPAIN-AVIATION-ACCIDENT(17 of31)
French police discuss operations at the site of the Germanwings Airbus A320 crash, in Seyne-les-Alpes, French Alps, on March 31, 2015. The co-pilot believed to have deliberately crashed a Germanwings plane into the French Alps was classified as suicidal 'several years ago' but had appeared more stable of late, German prosecutors said. As investigators in both countries tried to zero in on a potential motive, it emerged that that the first officer, Andreas Lubitz, was receiving treatment from neurologists and psychiatrists who had signed him off sick from work a number of times. AFP PHOTO / JEAN-PERRE CLATOT (Photo credit should read JEAN-PIERRE CLATOT/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JEAN-PIERRE CLATOT via Getty Images)
Andreas Lubitz Social Media(18 of31)
French authorities have indicated they believe the co-pilot of the GermanWings Airbus A320 deliberately took over the aircraft on Tuesday,crashing the plane on purpose and killing all 158 passengers and crew. The planned flight, from Barcelona to Dusseldorf, took a path over the southern French Alps near Dignes where the wreckage of the plane was found. At first GermanWings authorities expressed surprise and dismay in social media with the French authorities conclusion adding they believed it was too early in the investigation. A Lufthansa press conference later on Thursday, held in Germany, by Chief Executive Carsten Spohr stated that it appeared the co-pilot had prevented the pilot from entering the cockpit after a bathroom break. It leaves us absolutely speechless, he said. I wouldnt not have been able to imagine that the situation would have got even worse. ----- This social media photo of Andreas Lubitz near the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco was found on his FaceBook Page. (credit:David Bro/Zuma Press)
Germany France Plane Crash(19 of31)
Investigators carry boxes from the apartment of Germanwings airliner jet co-pilot Andreas Lubitz, in Duesseldorf, Germany, Thursday March 26, 2015. On Thursday, French prosecutors said Lubitz, the co-pilot of Germanwings Flight 9525, "intentionally" crashed the jet into the side of a mountain Tuesday in the French Alps. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) (credit:Martin Meissner/AP)
France Plane Crash(20 of31)
Forensic experts work near a criminal investigation bus in Seyne-les-Alpes, France, Friday, March 27, 2015. Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz appears to have hidden evidence of an illness from his employers, including having been excused by a doctor from work on Tuesday, the day authorities say he crashed a passenger plane into a mountain, prosecutors said. (AP Photo/Claude Paris) (credit:Claude Paris/AP)
France Plane Crash(21 of31)
Soldiers leave after a briefing and before heading to the crash site, Thursday, April 2, 2015 in Seyne-les-Alpes, France. Investigators believe co-pilot Andreas Lubitz intentionally crashed the Germanwings A320 into a mountainside, based on recordings from the cockpit voice recorder, killing 150 people. Special mountain troops continued searching the area for personal belongings and the second black box flight recorder (AP Photo/Claude Paris) (credit:Claude Paris/AP)
Germany Commemorates Germanwings Victims(22 of31)
COLOGNE, GERMANY - APRIL 17: A memorial of flowers and candles can be seen on the a memorial service to commemorate the victims of the Germanwings passenger plane crash, on April 17, 2015 in Cologne, Germany. Approximately 1,400 people, including 500 family member of victims, will attend the service to pay their respects to the 149 victims killed when co-pilot Andreas Lubitz purposefully locked himself in the cockpit and piloted the plane at high speed into a mountainside in southern France on March 24, instantly killing everyone on board, including himself. (Photo by Sascha Schuermann/Getty Images) (credit:Sascha Schuermann via Getty Images)
Germany Commemorates Germanwings Victims(23 of31)
COLOGNE, GERMANY - APRIL 17: Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki (L) and members of the public take part in a memorial service to commemorate the victims of the Germanwings flight 4U9525 passenger plane crash at the Dom cathedral on April 17, 2015 in Cologne, Germany. Approximately 1,400 people, including 500 family member of victims, will attend the service to pay their respects to the 149 victims killed when co-pilot Andreas Lubitz purposefully locked himself in the cockpit and piloted the plane at high speed into a mountainside in southern France on March 24, instantly killing everyone on board, including himself. (Photo by Pool/Getty Images) (credit:Pool via Getty Images)
Germany Commemorates Germanwings Victims(24 of31)
COLOGNE, GERMANY - APRIL 17: German President Joachim Gauck takes part in a memorial service to commemorate the victims of the Germanwings flight 4U9525 passenger plane crash at the Dom cathedral on April 17, 2015 in Cologne, Germany. Approximately 1,400 people, including 500 family member of victims, will attend the service to pay their respects to the 149 victims killed when co-pilot Andreas Lubitz purposefully locked himself in the cockpit and piloted the plane at high speed into a mountainside in southern France on March 24, instantly killing everyone on board, including himself. (Photo by Pool/Getty Images) (credit:Pool via Getty Images)
Germany France Plane Crash(25 of31)
An investigator carries bags with items that have been collected in the house of the family of Andreas Lubitz in Montabaur, Germany, Thursday, March 26, 2015. Lubitz was the copilot on flight Germanwings 9525 that crashed with 150 people on board on Tuesday in the French Alps. (AP Photo/Michael Probst) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Germany France Plane Crash(26 of31)
Investigators carry boxes from the apartment of Germanwings airliner jet co-pilot Andreas Lubitz, in Duesseldorf, Germany, Thursday March 26, 2015. On Thursday, French prosecutors said Lubitz, the co-pilot of Germanwings Flight 9525, "intentionally" crashed the jet into the side of a mountain Tuesday in the French Alps. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Germany France Plane Crash(27 of31)
Investigators carry boxes from the apartment of Germanwings airliner jet co-pilot Andreas Lubitz, in Duesseldorf, Germany, Thursday March 26, 2015. On Thursday, French prosecutors said Lubitz, the co-pilot of Germanwings Flight 9525, "intentionally" crashed the jet into the side of a mountain Tuesday in the French Alps. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Germany France Plane Crash(28 of31)
Gardengnomes sit in the garden of the house of the family of Andreas Lubitz in Montabaur, Germany, Friday, March 27, 2015. Lubitz was the copilot on flight Germanwings 9525 that crashed with 150 people on board on Tuesday in the French Alps. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
France Plane Crash(29 of31)
A gendarme of the canine brigade, with his dog, prepares to leave for the crash site, Thursday, April 2, 2015 in Seyne-les-Alpes, France. Investigators believe co-pilot Andreas Lubitz intentionally crashed the Germanwings A320 into a mountainside, based on recordings from the cockpit voice recorder, killing 150 people. Special mountain troops continued searching the area for personal belongings and the second black box flight recorder (AP Photo/Claude Paris) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
France Plane Crash(30 of31)
Soldiers leave after a briefing and before heading to the crash site, Thursday, April 2, 2015 in Seyne-les-Alpes, France. Investigators believe co-pilot Andreas Lubitz intentionally crashed the Germanwings A320 into a mountainside, based on recordings from the cockpit voice recorder, killing 150 people. Special mountain troops continued searching the area for personal belongings and the second black box flight recorder (AP Photo/Claude Paris) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
France Plane Crash(31 of31)
Mountain troops park their vehicle before heading to the crash site, Thursday, April 2, 2015 in Seyne-les-Alpes, France. Investigators believe co-pilot Andreas Lubitz intentionally crashed the Germanwings A320 into a mountainside, based on recordings from the cockpit voice recorder, killing 150 people. Special mountain troops continued searching the area for personal belongings and the second black box flight recorder (AP Photo/Claude Paris) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Prosecutors also found torn-up sick notes at his home, indicating he should not have flown on the day of the flight.
One of the Britons who died in the disaster was Paul Bramley, 28, who was originally from Hull. He was studying hospitality and hotel management at Cesar Ritz College in Lucerne and was about to start an internship.
Another of the Britons killed was father-of-two Martyn Matthews, 50, a senior quality manager from Wolverhampton.
Also killed was seven-month-old Julian Pracz-Bandres, from Manchester, was died alongside his mother, Spanish-born Marina Bandres Lopez-Belio.