Lufthansa pilot faints in cockpit - plane flies out of control for 10 minutes

The Spanish Air Accident Investigation Branch (CIAIAC) reported that in February 2024, during a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to Seville, the co-pilot passed out, leaving him alone in the cockpit. As a result, the A321 aircraft with 205 passengers on board was in the air for about 10 minutes without control from the crew. This is reported by CNN.

The captain had gone to the bathroom when his co-pilot suddenly lost consciousness. Although the autopilot remained engaged, audio recordings show the co-pilot involuntarily taking control of the controls. Air traffic controllers tried to contact the cockpit three times, but received no response.

After several attempts to open the door using the standard code, the captain used emergency access and took control of the aircraft. The flight was diverted to Madrid, where the plane landed safely.

The co-pilot was given first aid by flight attendants and a doctor who happened to be among the passengers. At the hospital, he was diagnosed with a previously undiagnosed neurological disorder. His pilot certification was revoked after the incident.

CIAIAC emphasized that pilots undergo special training in the event of the incapacitation of one of the crew members. According to the European database, 287 such incidents were recorded in civil aviation from 2019 to 2024.