Lufthansa flight left without pilot for 10 minutes after midair medical emergency
A Lufthansa flight from Germany to Spain was briefly left without any conscious pilot after a co-pilot collapsed while the captain was in the restroom, according to a newly released report.
A Lufthansa flight carrying 200 passengers was left without an active pilot for approximately 10 minutes, according to a newly released investigation into an incident that occurred in February 2024. The commercial flight, en route from Frankfurt, Germany to Seville, Spain, experienced a rare and potentially dangerous situation when both pilots were momentarily unavailable to operate the aircraft.
The event came to light this week after Spanish authorities published their findings. The captain had briefly left the cockpit for a restroom break as the flight neared Spanish airspace. When he attempted to return, he found the cockpit door locked and unresponsive, despite entering the security code multiple times. Attempts to contact the co-pilot through the intercom went unanswered.
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First officer lost consciousness during flight
Unknown to the crew, the 38-year-old first officer had lost consciousness inside the cockpit during the captain’s absence. When he eventually regained awareness around 10 minutes later, he opened the door, allowing the captain to re-enter and regain control. The first officer was described as disoriented, pale, and sweating, and was given medical attention on board by a doctor who happened to be a passenger.
The captain made the decision to divert the aircraft to Madrid, the closest airport, so the co-pilot could receive emergency care. According to the investigation, the first officer suffered a sudden neurological episode consistent with a known seizure disorder.
The plane was carrying 200 passengers traveling from Germany to Spain. Photo: Aviación Digital
Safety recommendations and response
Following the incident, investigators recommended that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) advise airlines to re-evaluate protocols regarding single-pilot presence on the flight deck. Standard procedure allows for brief solo operation, typically when one pilot takes a short break, but this event highlights the potential risk if that sole pilot becomes incapacitated.
Lufthansa has not publicly commented on the findings. The airline has not disclosed whether additional safety measures have since been implemented. While the incident concluded without injury or accident, it raised concerns about contingency planning for rare but high-risk scenarios at cruising altitude.
