Sat May 17 22:00:00 UTC 2025: **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
**Lufthansa Flight Flew Pilotless for 10 Minutes After Co-Pilot Faints**
**BERLIN (AP) —** A Lufthansa flight carrying 199 passengers flew without a pilot in control for approximately 10 minutes last February after the co-pilot fainted while alone in the cockpit, according to a report by the Spanish accident investigation authority CIAIAC.
The incident occurred on February 17, 2024, during a flight from Frankfurt, Germany, to Seville, Spain. The Airbus A321 co-pilot lost consciousness while the captain was in the restroom. The aircraft continued to fly in a stable manner due to the active autopilot system.
According to the report, the unconscious co-pilot made unintentional movements, and the cockpit voice recorder captured noises consistent with an acute health emergency.
The captain was initially unable to re-enter the cockpit using the standard door code. After the purser attempted to call, the pilot used the emergency code and re-entered the cockpit, shortly before the door would have opened automatically, to find his colleague opening the door.
The pilot then diverted the flight to Madrid for an unscheduled landing, where the co-pilot was taken to a hospital.
Lufthansa confirmed it was aware of the CIAIAC report and had conducted its own internal investigation, the results of which were not disclosed.
First Piper 