A Lufthansa flight with 205 people on board flew without active pilot control for approximately 10 minutes after the copilot lost consciousness while alone in the cockpit, according to a report by Spain’s air accident investigation authority.
The event occurred on February 17, 2024, during a flight from Frankfurt, Germany, to Seville, Spain. The Civil Aviation Accident and Incident Investigation Commission (CIAIAC) reported that the captain had temporarily exited the cockpit to use the restroom when the copilot suddenly became unconscious.
The Airbus A321, carrying 199 passengers and six crew members, maintained steady flight using the autopilot system. However, the report indicated that the incapacitated copilot inadvertently manipulated the controls. Audio from the cockpit captured noises consistent with his “sudden and severe incapacitation.”
Air traffic control made three attempts to communicate with the cockpit but received no response.
When the captain returned, he initially tried to access the cockpit using the standard code, which triggers an alert for the cockpit crew. After five failed attempts and no response through the intercom, he used the emergency override code to re-enter and take control of the aircraft.
The crew, along with a doctor onboard, administered first aid to the copilot, who eventually regained consciousness. He remembered receiving medical assistance but had no recollection of passing out.
The flight was diverted to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport in Madrid, where it landed safely about 20 minutes later. The copilot was taken to a hospital and discharged within a few hours.
An investigation determined the copilot had an undiagnosed neurological condition that was not detected during routine medical checks. His medical certification has since been revoked.
Lufthansa confirmed the incident and stated that its internal safety team also carried out a review, though the findings were not disclosed, according to German news agency dpa.
The CIAIAC called the situation an “extraordinary circumstance” and highlighted that pilots receive training to manage such emergencies. Although uncommon, pilot incapacitations—including sudden deaths—do happen. The CIAIAC referenced 287 in-flight pilot incapacitation cases in Europe between 2019 and 2024.
A separate 2004 report from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration documented 39 similar incidents involving American airline pilots between 1993 and 1998.
