Madrid: A Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt in Germany to Seville in Spain apparently flew pilotless for 10 minutes in February 2024. The official confirmation, made recently, has now hit global headlines with frequent flyers sitting up and taking notice.
The pilot of the Airbus A321 was in the restroom and the co-pilot lost consciousness during this period, investigations have revealed. The flight was carrying 200 passengers and six crew members.
According to reports, the autopilot kept the aircraft steady and averted a possible disaster till the co-pilot recovered sufficiently to unlock the door and let the pilot in. Cockpit doors can no longer be opened from the outside.
According to a report by the Spanish Civil Aviation Accident and Incident Investigation Commission (CIAIAC), the incident is from February 17, 2024. Upon returning from the restroom, the pilot tapped on the cockpit door, but there was no response. He then tried unlocking the cockpit door using standard and emergency codes but failed.
During this period, the cockpit voice recorder picked up strange sounds indicative of a medical emergency, while the co-pilot’s involuntary movements were documented as he remained incapacitated.
Eventually, when the co-pilot regained partial consciousness and managed to unlock the cockpit door, the captain was able to re-enter and assume control. The aircraft was then diverted to Madrid, where it landed safely. The co-pilot was immediately hospitalised.
Subsequent investigations revealed that the co-pilot had experienced a seizure caused by an undiagnosed neurological condition. CIAIAC has highlighted that such conditions are difficult to identify during routine medical examinations unless there have been previous symptoms reported.
Aviation experts wonder what may have happened had the co-pilot not regained consciousness. The autopilot can fly an aircraft, but cannot land it.
