Asger Risom
An Airbus A321 continued flying on autopilot after the copilot fainted and the captain was locked out of the cockpit, according to a Spanish investigation.
In a chilling reminder of how quickly routine can spiral into crisis at 36,000 feet, a Lufthansa flight carrying over 200 people flew without conscious pilot oversight for nearly ten minutes, according to an official report from Spanish aviation authorities.
Autopilot Keeps Plane in the Air After Dual-Pilot Failure
The incident occurred on February 17, 2024, during a scheduled flight from Frankfurt to Seville.
The aircraft’s captain had temporarily exited the cockpit for a restroom break when the copilot—alone at the controls—suffered a sudden loss of consciousness, likely triggered by an undiagnosed neurological condition.
With the cockpit door sealed and no response to repeated calls, the aircraft continued on autopilot while air traffic control attempted in vain to reach the flight crew.
According to Digi24, the captain made multiple failed attempts to re-enter using the standard cockpit access code. Only after employing an emergency override was he able to regain entry and take control of the Airbus A321.
Medical Emergency Triggers Emergency Landing
The copilot received first aid from crew members and a doctor onboard and later regained consciousness. The captain, assessing the situation, diverted the flight to Madrid, where the plane landed safely about 20 minutes later. The copilot was then transported to a hospital for further evaluation.
An investigation by the Spanish Civil Aviation Accident and Incident Investigation Commission (CIAIAC) revealed that the copilot’s condition had gone undetected during routine aeromedical screenings. His medical certification has since been suspended.
A Rare but Serious Risk in Aviation
While rare, such cases of pilot incapacitation are not unprecedented. CIAIAC identified 287 incidents across Europe from 2019 to 2024, while a previous U.S. FAA report counted 39 cases in American commercial aviation between 1993 and 1998. Lufthansa has acknowledged the incident and stated that its internal safety department has also conducted an inquiry, although its findings remain undisclosed.
The Spanish authority classified the event as an “extraordinary circumstance” and emphasized that commercial pilots are trained to respond when a colleague becomes medically unfit during flight.