Shocking! Lufthansa Flight With 199 Passengers Onboard Flies 10 Minutes Without a Pilot

Autopilot keeps aircraft stable as 199 passengers unknowingly soar pilotless; emergency landing follows

May 18, 2025 | Berlin A routine Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to Seville turned into a high-stakes situation last year when the aircraft was left without a conscious pilot for 10 minutes, according to a newly released investigation report by Spanish aviation authorities.

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The incident occurred on February 17, 2024, when the co-pilot of the Airbus A321 fainted alone in the cockpit, while the captain was in the restroom. With 199 passengers and six crew members aboard, the aircraft continued flying — stabilized only by its autopilot system.

🚪 Emergency Access Blocked

According to German news agency dpa, citing the report by Spain’s CIAIAC (Civil Aviation Accident and Incident Investigation Commission), the captain attempted multiple times to re-enter the cockpit using the regular access code, but received no response.

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He tried five times before resorting to the emergency override code, which would have automatically opened the cockpit door. Just seconds before it could take effect, the ill co-pilot regained consciousness enough to open the door from inside.

🎙️ Strange Noises, Stable Flight

Voice recordings from the cockpit captured disturbing noises, indicating the co-pilot was experiencing a serious medical episode. Fortunately, the autopilot continued to maintain the aircraft’s flight path, avoiding a catastrophe.

🛬 Swift Response

After retaking control, the captain diverted the flight to Madrid, where the co-pilot was immediately rushed to a hospital. Lufthansa confirmed the event and noted that its flight safety team also conducted an internal investigation, but declined to reveal its findings.

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This event underscores the importance of autopilot systems and cockpit access protocols, as well as the unpredictability of in-flight medical emergencies.

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Lufthansa, aviation safety, autopilot, cockpit access, pilot health emergency, Airbus A321, mid-air incident, CIAIAC report, Germany-Spain flight, Lufthansa co-pilot collapse