Overview

• The February 2024 Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to Seville flew for 10 minutes without a pilot in command after the co-pilot fainted while alone in the cockpit.
• The autopilot system maintained stable flight during the co-pilot's incapacitation, despite unintentional control inputs caused by the medical emergency.
• The captain re-entered the cockpit using an emergency access code after five failed attempts with the standard door code and diverted the flight to Madrid for medical assistance.
• Spanish investigators determined the co-pilot suffered from a seizure disorder caused by a neurological condition, which had not been detected in prior medical screenings.
• The CIAIAC report has led to ongoing reviews of cockpit staffing policies and medical fitness standards by European regulators, while Lufthansa has acknowledged the findings but kept its internal investigation results confidential.