Lufthansa Flight Unmanned for 10 Minutes After First Officer Collapses Mid-Flight

A Lufthansa flight was left without an active pilot for about 10 minutes after the first officer collapsed while alone in the cockpit, Business Insider reported, citing an investigation.

The incident occurred in early 2024 during a flight from Frankfurt, Germany, to Seville, Spain. The aircraft, an Airbus A321, had over 200 passengers on board and was operating normally until it entered Spanish airspace.

Roughly 30 minutes before the plane’s scheduled landing, the captain left the cockpit for a bathroom break. He later told investigators that the first officer had shown no signs of illness at that point.

However, when the captain returned eight minutes later, he found himself locked out of the cockpit and unable to get a response from inside.

In his interview with investigators, the first officer stated that he had suddenly blacked out.

The captain attempted to unlock the cockpit using the security code, trying five times. Meanwhile, a flight attendant also tried to reach the first officer through the intercom with no success.

Eventually, the captain used an emergency override code. Before the lockout timer expired, the first officer regained enough awareness to open the cockpit door.

Once inside, the captain found the 38-year-old first officer in a visibly distressed state, described as “pale, sweating, and moving strangely.” He immediately called for medical assistance.

A doctor who was traveling as a passenger, along with the cabin crew, administered first aid. The captain then diverted the flight to Madrid, the closest airport, where the first officer was taken to a hospital.

According to the final report published Thursday by Spanish investigators, the officer’s “sudden and severe incapacitation” was caused by a seizure stemming from an undiagnosed neurological disorder.

Authorities noted that this condition would not typically appear in a routine medical check unless symptoms were already present or had previously been reported.

Investigators recommended that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency notify all airlines of the incident and advise a reassessment of the risks associated with leaving only one pilot on the flight deck.