- Lufthansa Flight flew 10 minutes without a pilot after the co-pilot suddenly lost consciousness mid-air.
- The captain regained control and safely diverted the Lufthansa Flight to Madrid with help from the cabin crew and a doctor on board.
- Medical tests revealed the co-pilot had a seizure disorder, leading to his flying license being suspended after the Lufthansa Flight incident.
A Lufthansa Flight went through a shocking situation last year. The plane flew for about 10 minutes with no pilot at the controls. The incident happened when the co-pilot suddenly lost consciousness. At that moment, the captain had stepped out of the cockpit to use the bathroom. The plane carried 199 passengers and six crew members. It was flying from Frankfurt, Germany, to Seville, Spain. Spanish aviation officials revealed these details in a report released this week.
Captain left the cockpit thinking everything was fine
The captain was 43 years old. He had about 30 minutes left in the Lufthansa Flight and needed to use the lavatory. He said the 38-year-old co-pilot looked alert and healthy when he left. The captain expected to return quickly. He had no reason to think anything would go wrong. But while he was away, the co-pilot collapsed without warning. He made no call for help and gave no sign of distress.
Captain couldn’t get back into the cockpit
The captain tried to re-enter the cockpit. He typed in the security code five times. But the door stayed locked. He used the intercom to call the co-pilot. No one answered. He knew something was wrong. He activated the emergency cockpit access code. That code takes a short time to unlock the door unless someone inside stops it. Just before it unlocked, the co-pilot woke up and opened the door.
Co-pilot was pale and acting strangely
The captain quickly took control of the aircraft. He noticed the co-pilot looked very sick. He was pale, sweating, and behaving oddly. The captain called for help from the cabin crew. A passenger who was also a doctor came forward. He and the crew gave the co-pilot first aid. The doctor said the symptoms pointed to a heart problem.
Co-pilot had no memory of the event
Later, the co-pilot told investigators he blacked out. He didn’t know for how long. He remembered flying over Zaragoza. Then, he was suddenly being treated by the crew and the doctor. He had no time to alert anyone before losing consciousness. The episode came without warning and was very sudden.
Autopilot kept the plane steady during the crisis
The aircraft kept flying safely during those 10 minutes. The autopilot system remained on. It controlled the flight path and kept the plane stable. However, the cockpit voice recorder picked up strange sounds. Investigators believe those noises came from the co-pilot during his medical emergency. The noises confirmed that something serious happened in the cockpit.
Captain made quick decision to land in Madrid
After retaking control, the captain chose to land in Madrid. It was the closest airport. He didn’t take any risks. The plane landed without further issues. Medical staff took the co-pilot to the hospital for tests. Doctors diagnosed him with a seizure disorder. They said a neurological condition caused the sudden collapse. He had never shown signs of this condition before.
Doctors suspended the co-pilot’s flying license
As a safety measure, doctors suspended the co-pilot’s medical license. He could not return to work until further notice. Investigators said the incident showed how important it is to monitor pilots’ health closely. Even trained and experienced co-pilots can suffer from unexpected medical emergencies.
Lufthansa confirmed it reviewed the case
Lufthansa confirmed it received the investigation report. A spokesperson said the airline’s own safety department also reviewed the situation of the Lufthansa Flight. The company didn’t share its findings. It also didn’t comment on what changes, if any, it would make to avoid future risks.
