Lufthansa Co-Pilot Faints Mid-Flight

A Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt, Germany, to Seville, Spain, on February 17, 2024, flew for approximately 10 minutes without a pilot in command after the co-pilot fainted while alone in the cockpit. The captain was in the restroom at the time. The Airbus, carrying 199 passengers and six crew members, remained stable due to its active autopilot. The captain attempted to re-enter the cockpit using standard and emergency codes, eventually gaining access when the co-pilot, despite being ill, opened the door. The flight was diverted to Spain — Madrid, Spain, where the co-pilot received medical attention. The Spanish accident investigation authority, Spain — Civil Aviation Accident and Incident Investigation Commission, reported on the incident, and Lufthansa confirmed it conducted its own internal investigation.