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A Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to Seville experienced a tense situation when the first officer fainted while alone in the cockpit, leaving the Airbus A321 without a pilot for ten minutes. The incident occurred on February 17, 2024, when the captain left the cockpit to use the lavatory. During this time, the autopilot kept the aircraft stable, ensuring the safety of the 199 passengers and six crew members on board.
The Spanish accident investigation authority, CIAIAC, detailed how the copilot's sudden incapacitation was recorded on the cockpit voice recorder, and air traffic control received no response from the flight deck. The captain, after multiple unsuccessful attempts to access the cockpit using the regular code, resorted to an emergency code to regain control of the plane. Upon entering, the captain found the copilot pale and unresponsive, prompting immediate first aid from the crew and a doctor on board.
The copilot later regained consciousness and was diagnosed with a previously unknown neurological condition that caused his incapacitation. The flight was diverted to Madrid, where the copilot was hospitalized briefly. His medical certificate has since been suspended as a precaution.
Lufthansa has cooperated with the investigation, but has not disclosed its internal findings. The CIAIAC described the event as an "extraordinary circumstance" and emphasized that captains are trained for such situations. Despite the rarity, in-flight pilot incapacitations do occur, with 287 cases reported in Europe from 2019 to 2024.