Lufthansa Flight Flew for 10 Minutes Without Pilot After Co-Pilot Fainted
A Lufthansa plane carrying 200 people flew on autopilot for 10 minutes after the co-pilot fainted and the captain was locked out of the cockpit. The aircraft landed safely, and the co-pilot was later found to have a hidden medical issue.
10:43 AM May 18, 2025 IST
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Aakash Khuman
Lufthansa Flight: On February 17, 2024, a Lufthansa Airbus A321 was flying from Frankfurt to Seville when the captain went to the restroom. During that time, the co-pilot fainted while alone in the cockpit.
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Plane Continued on Autopilot for 10 Minutes
The aircraft, carrying 200 passengers and 6 crew members, flew without human control for around 10 minutes. Thankfully, the autopilot kept the flight stable and avoided danger.
Captain Couldn’t Re-Enter Cockpit
The captain tried using both standard and emergency codes to get back into the cockpit but failed. The voice recorder later captured strange sounds from inside the cockpit, pointing to a medical emergency.
Co-Pilot Regained Consciousness
After some time, the co-pilot regained partial consciousness and unlocked the cockpit door. The captain got back inside and took control. The flight was safely diverted to Madrid, where the co-pilot was taken to the hospital.
Medical Condition Found Later
An investigation revealed that the co-pilot suffered a seizure due to a previously unknown neurological condition. Experts say such conditions are hard to detect during regular checkups unless there are warning signs.
Lufthansa Responds
Lufthansa declined to comment further, stating that all details are mentioned in the official investigation report.
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