A Lufthansa flight traveled over 10 minutes without a conscious pilot last year, as detailed in a report by the Spanish accident investigation body CIAIAC.
The Airbus A321 was en route from Frankfurt, Germany, to Seville, Spain, on February 17, 2024, when the co-pilot experienced a “sudden and severe incapacitation,” losing consciousness in the cockpit while the captain had left for “physiological reasons,” according to the investigation.
The report stated that autopilot was activated during that period, allowing the aircraft, which had 199 passengers and six crew members onboard, to continue flying steadily.
“We are aware of the report issued by the Spanish authorities,” Lufthansa Airlines told Fox News Digital.
A view into the cockpit of a Lufthansa passenger plane is seen on April 25, 2024 in Germany. (Leonhard Simon)
After an emergency access code was entered and moments before the automatic door was released, the copilot opened the deck door manually from the inside despite being ill, the report continued. The captain took control of the aircraft at 10:42 UTC.
The captain found the copilot “pale, sweating and moving strangely,” according to the investigation report. After a crew member and on board doctor administered first aid and suspected a possible heart condition, the captain then diverted the plane to the most suitable airport and landed in Madrid approximately 20 minutes later. The copilot was then taken to the hospital.
A Lufthansa Airbus A321-100 parked on a tarmac. (aviation-images.com/Universal Images Group)
The copilot was later diagnosed with a previously undetected neurological condition, the report said.
