A Lufthansa flight carrying 205 people was without a pilot for 10 minutes after the copilot fainted while alone in the cockpit, according to a new report from Spain’s accident investigation authority.
The incident occurred on February 17, 2024, during a flight from Frankfurt to Seville, Spain. The captain had briefly left the cockpit to use the bathroom when the copilot lost consciousness. The Airbus A321 was carrying 199 passengers and six crew members at the time.
Despite the copilot’s incapacitation, the flight continued safely, thanks to the autopilot being active. However, the copilot unintentionally operated the flight controls during this period. The voice recorder captured sounds consistent with the copilot’s sudden collapse, and air traffic controllers attempted to contact the cockpit several times but received no response.
The captain, upon returning to the cockpit and being unable to open the door with the regular code, made five unsuccessful attempts before using an emergency code to gain access. Once inside, the captain took control of the aircraft.
Lufthansa confirmed it was aware of the investigation and mentioned that its own safety department had also conducted an inquiry, though it did not disclose its findings.
The copilot, who had received first aid from the crew and a doctor who was onboard as a passenger, regained consciousness and recalled being treated. The captain decided to divert the flight to Madrid’s Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas airport, where the plane landed about 20 minutes later. The copilot was then taken to the hospital and remained there for several hours.
The investigation revealed that the copilot’s incapacitation was due to a pre-existing neurological condition that had not been detected during his medical examination. As a result, the copilot’s medical certificate has been suspended.
The Spanish authority classified the incident as an “extraordinary circumstance” and emphasized that captains are trained for situations where a pilot becomes incapacitated. Although rare, in-flight pilot incapacitations, including the sudden death of pilots, do occur. According to the authority, there were 287 reported cases of pilot incapacitation between 2019 and 2024. Additionally, a 2004 FAA report noted 39 incidents of pilot incapacitation among U.S. airline pilots between 1993 and 1998.
