In a bizarre and frightening mid-air incident, a Germany to Spain Lufthansa plane, carrying nearly 200 passengers, flew for 10 minutes without any pilot as the first officer lost consciousness and the captain was in the washroom. The incident took place last year but the findings have come out now after an investigation. Airbus A321, carrying 199 passengers and six crew members, was en route from Frankfurt, Germany to Seville, Spain in February 2024.
Captain says when he left for washroom, first officer was fine
The 43-year-old captain who left for the washroom told the investigators that the first officer, aged 38, was fine and alert at the time he left. There were 30 minutes of flight time remaining. So the captain thought he could go to the lavatory. He said he returned eight minutes later but was unable to access the flight deck, though he entered the security door's access code.
The captain got frightened and called the deck through the intercom, which went unanswered. The captain then entered the emergency code to open the gate. It was at the same time that the co-pilot regained his consciousness and opened the door manually from the inside.
“As the co-pilot was pale, sweating and moving strangely, the captain called for assistance from the cabin crew. The co-pilot was given first aid by the crew and a doctor, who was traveling as a passenger and diagnosed a possible heart condition," a report by Spanish aviation investigators revealed.
The co-pilot, who fell unconscious, said he did not know how long he was out for. “The co-pilot stated that he had lost consciousness and that he couldn’t remember when. Before that, he remembered flying over Zaragoza and, the next thing, he was being attended to by the cabin crew and a doctor,” the report said.
“The loss of consciousness was so sudden that he was unable to warn the other crew members of his incapacitation.”
As the captain took control over the plane, he diverted it to Madid which was the closest airport at that time. The first officer was taken to a hospital where doctors said his sudden and severe incapacitation was a result of a neurological condition. His medical certificate was suspended
Captain says when he left for washroom, first officer was fine
The 43-year-old captain who left for the washroom told the investigators that the first officer, aged 38, was fine and alert at the time he left. There were 30 minutes of flight time remaining. So the captain thought he could go to the lavatory. He said he returned eight minutes later but was unable to access the flight deck, though he entered the security door's access code.
The captain got frightened and called the deck through the intercom, which went unanswered. The captain then entered the emergency code to open the gate. It was at the same time that the co-pilot regained his consciousness and opened the door manually from the inside.
“As the co-pilot was pale, sweating and moving strangely, the captain called for assistance from the cabin crew. The co-pilot was given first aid by the crew and a doctor, who was traveling as a passenger and diagnosed a possible heart condition," a report by Spanish aviation investigators revealed.
The co-pilot, who fell unconscious, said he did not know how long he was out for. “The co-pilot stated that he had lost consciousness and that he couldn’t remember when. Before that, he remembered flying over Zaragoza and, the next thing, he was being attended to by the cabin crew and a doctor,” the report said.
“The loss of consciousness was so sudden that he was unable to warn the other crew members of his incapacitation.”
As the captain took control over the plane, he diverted it to Madid which was the closest airport at that time. The first officer was taken to a hospital where doctors said his sudden and severe incapacitation was a result of a neurological condition. His medical certificate was suspended
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