The investigation into a Lufthansa flight that was left without a pilot for nearly 10 minutes has finally shed light on the unusual situation and what happened to the crew member in charge.
The incident took place in February 2024, involving an Airbus A321 operated by Lufthansa. The flight had departed from Frankfurt, Germany, and was on its way to Seville, Spain, carrying more than 200 passengers.
However, with only around 30 minutes remaining in the journey, the aircraft had to be diverted to Madrid after it was left flying without an active pilot in the cockpit for nearly 10 minutes.
On Thursday, May 15, Spanish aviation authorities released their final report on the terrifying incident.
According to details shared by Business Insider, the plane’s captain had left the flight deck to use the restroom when the flight was nearing its final leg, just about 30 minutes from arrival.
When Lufthansa Flight Was Left Unattended In The Sky
During his official interview, the captain explained that everything seemed normal when he stepped out of the cockpit. The first officer appeared to be in good health and fully alert at the time.
But things changed quickly. When the captain returned just eight minutes later, he couldn’t get back into the cockpit.
Despite repeated efforts to enter the secure cockpit using the proper access code, and attempts by a flight attendant to contact the first officer over the intercom, no response came. By the time the emergency override was attempted, the timed entry feature had already expired.
In the end, the plane flew for a full 10 minutes with no one actively at the controls.
This left everyone wondering—what exactly had happened to the first officer?
What Happened To The First Officer?
The first officer, who hasn’t been publicly named but is said to be a 38-year-old male, later explained to investigators that he had suddenly blacked out while alone in the cockpit.
Thankfully, he eventually regained consciousness. He managed to get up and open the cockpit door. The captain later described his colleague as looking very unwell—he was pale, sweating heavily, and behaving strangely.
At that point, the captain decided it was safest to divert the flight to Madrid. The cabin crew, along with a passenger who identified as a doctor, helped assist the unwell first officer during the remainder of the flight.
Once the plane touched down in Madrid, the first officer was rushed to the hospital. Doctors later confirmed that he had experienced a neurological episode, which was diagnosed as a seizure disorder. This condition caused what officials described as a sudden and serious incapacitation mid-flight.
In light of the incident, aviation experts and regulators are now pushing for the European Union Aviation Safety Agency to consider changes to current flight safety rules, according to The Economic Times.