A Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to Seville flew on autopilot for 10 minutes after the co-pilot fainted while alone in the cockpit. The plane later landed safely in Madrid with 199 passengers and six crew members onboard.
- The captain had briefly stepped out, leaving the co-pilot alone when the medical emergency occurred.
- Autopilot kept the Airbus A321 stable while the cockpit remained locked to crew outside.
- CIAIAC urged stricter cockpit policies and recommended two authorised crew remain present at all times.
The crisis unfolded silently behind a locked cockpit door, while passengers remained unaware. A doctor onboard offered quick support, helping stabilise the co-pilot until landing. It was training, teamwork, and technology that quietly saved over 200 lives.
Will European aviation regulators revise cockpit protocols to prevent future solo-pilot risks? Safety systems worked this time—but what if next time they don’t?
