Pilot Faints: Lufthansa Flight Flies Unmanned for 10 Minutes

A shocking incident occurred on a Lufthansa flight last year when the copilot fainted, leaving the aircraft pilotless for ten critical minutes. According to a report by Spain’s accident investigation authority (CIAIAC), the event unfolded during a flight from Frankfurt to Seville on February 17, 2024.

The report reveals that the captain had briefly left the cockpit when the copilot lost consciousness. The Airbus A321, carrying 199 passengers and six crew members, continued its trajectory on autopilot.

The CIAIAC report indicates that despite the autopilot’s engagement, the copilot unintentionally manipulated controls during his incapacitation. Alarming sounds, consistent with a “sudden and severe incapacitation,” were captured on the cockpit voice recorder.

Air traffic control’s attempts to contact the copilot were unsuccessful. The captain, upon his return, faced difficulty re-entering the cockpit, requiring the use of an emergency code to regain control of the aircraft.

Lufthansa acknowledged the incident and confirmed cooperation with Spanish authorities, stating that an internal investigation was also conducted. However, the airline refrained from further comment on the details of the report.

Following the incident, the copilot received immediate medical attention from the crew and a doctor who happened to be a passenger on board. He regained consciousness and recalled the treatment he received.

The captain made the decision to divert the flight to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, landing safely approximately 20 minutes later. The copilot was then transported to a hospital for further evaluation.

Subsequent investigations revealed that the copilot’s incapacitation stemmed from a previously undiagnosed neurological condition, which had not been detected during his routine medical examinations. His medical certificate has since been suspended.

The Spanish authority classified the event as an “extraordinary circumstance,” emphasizing that pilots receive training to manage situations involving pilot incapacitation.

The CIAIAC report highlights the rarity, yet potential, for in-flight incapacitations, citing instances including sudden pilot deaths. Their data analysis from 2019 to 2024 identified 287 instances of pilot incapacitation within the European Commission’s transportation occurrence reports database.

A 2004 report by the US Federal Aviation Administration documented 39 in-flight incapacitations among American airline pilots between 1993 and 1998, further illustrating the potential for such events.