Several grief-stricken Germanwings pilots have refused to get back to work and fly as they mourn the death of the 152 passengers and crew members of Flight 4U9525 that crashed in the French Alps last Tuesday.

The pilots' union spokesman, Joerg Handwerg, said the pilots have lost friends and colleagues in the crash and that it would be better that they stay off the cockpit for the meantime as they grieve the loss of their loved ones.

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Handwerg said the pilots' refusal to fly was not because of safety concerns but  to give them ample time to mourn before going back to the cockpit.

Reports said the airport has reported 'flight disruptions' and one flight had to be cancelled following the crash.

Lufthansa chief Carsten Spohr said the Germanwings Airbus A320 was in 'perfect condition' and with experienced pilots manning the cockpit.

"It is inexplicable," he said. "The plane was in perfect condition and the two pilots were experienced."

Reports about the plane's safety have emerged after it was discovered that the doomed Airbus A320 was grounded for maintenance repairs last Monday, the day before the crash.

A spokesman for Germanwings reportedly admitted that the plane was grounded to repair the plane's landing doors.

The airline company said the repairs done on the plane were not 'safety related' and that in fact, the same plane flew again that Monday morning.

The spokesman added that  the maintenance crew fixed the noise that the landing doors were making and that the plane flew right after that, at 10:00 in the morning Monday.

Several theories have come up explaining the cause of the plane crash and aviation authorities have been busy trying to solve the puzzle. 

TagsGermanwings, plane crash, Airbus A320, lufthansa, Alps