Lufthansa Flight Incident Report

A recent investigation by the Spanish Accident Investigation Bureau, CIAIAC, revealed a concerning incident involving a Lufthansa flight. Last year, an Airbus A321 took off from Frankfurt, Germany, headed to Seville, Spain, on February 17, 2024. During the flight, the pilot experienced a sudden and severe health issue, leading them to lose consciousness in the cockpit while the captain had briefly stepped out for personal reasons.

During the 10 minutes that followed, the autopilot was engaged. This allowed the aircraft, carrying 199 passengers and a crew of six, to maintain a steady course. Lufthansa acknowledged the report issued by Spanish authorities, stating that they were cooperating fully in the investigation.

The captain left the flight deck at 10:31 UTC, shortly before the co-pilot, who had been feeling unwell, collapsed. When the captain returned eight minutes later, attempts to re-enter the cockpit were unsuccessful, despite following standard procedures and repeated calls from the cabin crew. Eventually, the crew managed to open the door manually.

Upon regaining control, the captain found the co-pilot in poor condition, appearing pale and sweaty. After initial first aid attempts by the crew and the captain’s doctor, there was concern about a potential heart condition. As a result, the flight was diverted, landing in Madrid approximately 20 minutes later, where the co-pilot was taken to the hospital.

Further examination revealed that the co-pilot had a previously undiagnosed neurological condition, complicating the situation significantly.