Lufthansa’s Air Mystery: Flying for 10 minutes without pilots | Here’s what happened | World News
In a dramatic air accident discovered in a recent report, Lufthansa’s Lufthansa flight from Sevilla to Frankfurt lasted nearly 10 minutes without a pilot at the helm, while the co-pilot experienced unconsciousness while in a cockpit alone. The air crisis occurred on February 17, 2024 and was disclosed through a report by the Spanish Air Accident Investigation Agency CIAIAC, cited by the German news agency DPA on Saturday.
According to the survey, when the co-pilot lost consciousness, the Airbus A321 had 199 passengers and six crew members on the cruise. The captain had been out of the cockpit for some time to meet his needs in the bathroom. During the critical window, the aircraft is controlled by the autopilot and it can still fly stably even without a vigilant pilot.
The subsequent flight data recorder showed an abnormal sound in the cockpit, which matched the sudden medical condition, further supporting the co-pilot’s inability.
Several attempts to re-enter the cockpit
After logging in, the captain made five attempts, re-entering the cockpit through the standard access code, which allowed the crew to turn on the buzzer inside. There was no reply, and the cabin attendant also tried to call the co-pilot through the cabin intercom.
at last. The captain used the emergency coverage code and opened the cabin door himself. The moment in front of the door will automatically open, the patient’s co-pilot unlocks from the inside, and the captain can regain control.
Emergency transfer to Madrid
The co-pilot is sick and the captain decides to land the plane in Madrid, and the paramedics are waiting. The co-pilot was taken directly to the hospital for treatment.
Lufthansa told DPA it was aware of the CIAIAC investigation and also conducted an internal review through its flight safety department, although the airline did not disclose its results.
The incident has attracted attention to cockpit safety procedures and medical surveillance of flight personnel, although not harming passengers and the plane landed safely.
The full report from CIAIAC may include more suggestions to avoid similar events in the future.
