Co-pilot faints mid-flight, leaving Lufthansa plane without pilot

In February 2024, a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to Seville, Spain, experienced a significant in-flight emergency when the co-pilot fainted while he was alone in the cockpit. This occurred during the flight with a total of 205 individuals on board, including 199 passengers and six crew members. The captain, who was momentarily away from the cockpit, faced a difficult situation as he returned and found himself unable to access the flight deck due to the co-pilot's incapacitation. The aircraft remained stable thanks to its autopilot system, which continued to control the flight. However, during this critical period, the voice recordings captured noises indicating the severity of the co-pilot's abrupt health crisis, as he unintentionally operated the controls amidst his unconsciousness. An air traffic controller, trying to maintain communication, made multiple attempts to reach the co-pilot but received no response. Fortunately, after the captain made several unsuccessful attempts to enter the cockpit using a standard access code, he resorted to an emergency access code, which ultimately allowed him to re-establish control of the aircraft just before the door unexpectedly opened from the inside, thanks to the co-pilot regaining consciousness. After taking command, the captain decided to divert the flight to Madrid’s airport, landing approximately 20 minutes later. Once on the ground, the co-pilot was swiftly transported to the hospital for treatment, where he received immediate care from both the crew and a doctor who was on board as a passenger. The airline confirmed it was aware of the incident and was cooperating with an investigation conducted by Spain’s accident investigation authority, CIAIAC. The results revealed that the co-pilot's fainting spell was linked to a pre-existing neurological condition, which he was unaware of and that had not been detected during his previous medical evaluations for flying. Following this incident, the co-pilot’s medical certificate was suspended. Although cases of pilot incapacitation are infrequent, the CIAIAC pointed out that measures are in place to prepare flight crews for emergencies such as these, emphasizing the need for protocols and ongoing training to ensure passenger safety during unforeseen medical situations.