Lufthansa flight flies for 10 mins without pilot in Spain, probe initiated

A Lufthansa flight traveling from Frankfurt to Seville flew without an active pilot in control for approximately 10 minutes, according to a preliminary report by Spanish aviation authorities.

The flight, operated by an Airbus aircraft, was carrying 199 passengers and six crew members on May 17. At the time of the incident, the captain was resting in the designated crew rest area at the rear of the aircraft, while the co-pilot was in command of the flight deck.

The situation took a turn when the co-pilot suddenly lost consciousness mid-flight. With the aircraft on autopilot and the cockpit door locked from the inside, the commander pilot was unable to re-enter despite multiple attempts. The cockpit voice recorder captured irregular breathing patterns from the co-pilot, prompting the onboard system to trigger a medical emergency alarm.

Alerted by the emergency buzzer, the captain rushed to the cockpit and attempted to gain access. According to Lufthansa protocol, the cockpit door can only be opened from the inside unless an emergency override code is used. However, flight attendants were also unsuccessful in contacting or reviving the co-pilot via intercom.

In a critical moment, the commander pilot used the emergency override code to unlock the cockpit. Coincidentally, the co-pilot, regaining partial consciousness, managed to open the door from the inside before collapsing back into his seat.

The captain took immediate control of the aircraft and safely diverted the flight to Madrid Airport, where the co-pilot was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. After a brief delay, the flight resumed and later arrived in Seville without further incident.

Spanish investigation agency CIAIAC (Civil Aviation Accident and Incident Investigation Commission) is currently reviewing the incident, including cockpit protocols and crew health monitoring systems.