In a chilling incident, a Lufthansa aircraft was left at the controls without an active pilot for about 10 minutes in 2024. According to German news agency dpa’s Saturday report, the terrifying incident occurred on a flight en route from Germany to Spain on February 17, 2024. The alarming event unfolded after one of the pilots lost consciousness while in the cockpit. Meanwhile, another captain was using the restroom. The mid-air saga aboard the Airbus A321 took place on the Lufthansa aircraft carrying 199 passengers and 6 crew members.
What Exactly Happened In The Flight?
According to reports, the pilot (43) left his 38-year-old colleague in charge of the flight operations, with approximately 30 minutes of journey time left. Upon returning after eight minutes (approx), the captain claimed that he couldn’t enter the cockpit even with the security code despite several attempts. Tensions escalated when his intercom call went answered, the New York Post reported.
Shortly after, the captain resorted to using an emergency access code. In the meantime, the other co-pilot regained consciousness and opened the aircraft’s deck door manually from the inside. The captain looked pale and was profusely sweating. He was given first aid by the cabin crew and a doctor onboard as a passenger. Reports added that a possible heart condition was diagnosed.
Lufthansa flight Confirms A Separate Inquiry
According to Dpa, Lufthansa confirmed their flight safety department’s separate inquiry into the matter, the results of which have not yet been disclosed. The aircraft was stable due to the engaged autopilot, despite inadvertent control inputs from the co-pilot in context. Meanwhile, the voice recorder caught unusual sounds, indicating a medical emergency within the cockpit.
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