A Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to Seville flew for about 10 minutes without a pilot controlling the plane because the co-pilot fainted while alone in the cockpit, German news agency dpa reported on Saturday.

Incident Happened in February 2024

The accident occurred on February 17, 2024, aboard an Airbus A321. The plane was carrying 199 passengers and six crew members. According to Spain’s air accident agency, CIAIAC, the captain was in the restroom when the co-pilot suddenly lost consciousness.

Plane Stayed Stable Thanks to Autopilot

As a result, the aircraft flew for around 10 minutes without anyone actively piloting it. However, the autopilot kept the plane stable. Although the unconscious co-pilot accidentally touched some controls, the plane remained steady. Meanwhile, the voice recorder picked up strange noises in the cockpit that matched a sudden health emergency, dpa said.

Captain Tried Multiple Ways to Enter Cockpit

First, the captain tried five times to enter the cockpit using the normal door code. This code sends a buzzer so the co-pilot can open the door. However, the door did not open. Then, a flight attendant tried calling the co-pilot on the onboard phone.

Finally, the captain used an emergency code to open the door automatically. Yet, just before the door opened, the co-pilot, although unwell, opened it from inside, dpa reported.

Flight Diverted and Co-Pilot Hospitalized

Therefore, the captain diverted the flight to Madrid for an emergency landing. The co-pilot was taken to the hospital for medical tests. Afterwards, the plane continued safely to Seville.

Lufthansa told dpa it knew about the investigation. Furthermore, the airline conducted its own review but did not disclose the results.