Lufthansa flight left pilotless for 10 minutes

A Lufthansa flight was flown without an active pilot for nearly 10 minutes after the co-pilot fainted alone in the cockpit, according to a report released Saturday by air accident investigators in Madrid, Spain.

The incident occurred on 17 February 2024 during a scheduled flight from Frankfurt, Germany to Seville, Spain. The captain had stepped out to use the lavatory when the co-pilot suddenly lost consciousness, leaving the Airbus A321 in the hands of autopilot.

Despite the co-pilot unintentionally interacting with the controls, the aircraft maintained stable flight. Investigators from the Civil Aviation Accident and Incident Investigation Commission in Madrid said cockpit audio captured abnormal sounds consistent with a medical emergency.

Cabin crew tried to contact the co-pilot using the onboard telephone, but received no response. The captain attempted to open the cockpit door using the standard security code five times, which would normally sound a buzzer for the co-pilot to release the lock.

The cockpit door, reinforced to prevent hijackings, cannot be opened by force. The captain then used an emergency override code, which initiates automatic door opening unless actively blocked from within.

Just before the override would have taken effect, the co-pilot managed to unlock the door manually. He appeared extremely pale, was sweating, and making involuntary movements, according to the report. The captain retook control of the aircraft and decided to divert to Madrid, Spain.

The aircraft, carrying 199 passengers and six crew members, landed safely. A doctor who was travelling on board provided medical assistance before the co-pilot was transferred to a hospital in Madrid.

Medical records showed no indication of pre-existing conditions during the co-pilot’s previous examinations or recent health checks.

The report has reignited discussion over cockpit protocol, particularly the long-standing debate on whether two authorised crew members should always be present in the cockpit. The Spanish investigators recommended that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency in Cologne, Germany, advise flight operators to reassess relevant guidelines.

Lufthansa, which is based in Frankfurt, Germany, said its flight safety department had carried out a thorough internal review but declined to release details, citing company policy.