On 17 February 2024, panic broke out aboard a Lufthansa Airbus A321 en route from Frankfurt to Seville. According to reports published by the German newspaper Bild and the Spanish Civil Aviation Accident and Incident Investigation Commission, the aircraft veered off course for several minutes after the co-pilot suddenly lost consciousness mid-flight.
The incident occurred at an altitude of approximately 10,700 metres. At the time, the captain was in the lavatory, leaving the co-pilot alone in the cockpit, where he reportedly experienced a sudden loss of consciousness. Although the aircraft switched to autopilot, the co-pilot’s collapsed body position caused the plane to deviate slightly from its intended flight path.
Even more alarming was that, when the captain attempted to return, he was unable to re-enter the cockpit because the door had locked from the inside. In accordance with security protocols, the door cannot be opened without the co-pilot’s approval, and the automatic locking system remains engaged even if the correct code is entered.
Fortunately, the co-pilot regained consciousness just eight minutes later and manually unlocked the door. The captain immediately regained control of the aircraft. The plane made an emergency landing at Madrid Barajas Airport without incident.
According to preliminary findings from the Spanish Civil Aviation Accident and Incident Investigation Commission, the co-pilot’s loss of consciousness was likely caused by a previously undiagnosed neurological condition. An official investigation into the incident is ongoing.
