Germany’s civil aviation authority, Luftfahrtbundesamt, is reported to have received a warning following a EU audit that stated staff shortages could undermine its ability to run checks of carriers and crew, including medical checks. The news was reported by the Wall Street Journal over the weekend, citing two unidentified sources, which added that the EU told formally told Luftfahrtbundesamt to remedy the situation last November.
"On the basis of EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) recommendations, the Commission has addressed the issues to Germany to require compliance. Germany's replies are currently being assessed," the Commission spokesman said in the emailed statement.
"All EU member states have findings and this is a normal and regular occurrence. It is part of a continuous system of oversight: findings are followed by corrective action, similar to an audit process," the Commission spokesman said.
The otherwise routine audit findings have been highlighted due to the deliberate Germanwings aircraft crash at the hands of its co-pilot.