Overview

• A Lufthansa Airbus A321 flying from Frankfurt to Seville was left without a pilot for 10 minutes after the co-pilot fainted while the captain was in the lavatory.
• The co-pilot's sudden incapacitation was caused by a seizure disorder linked to a neurological condition, as confirmed by Spanish investigators.
• The captain struggled to re-enter the cockpit, attempting the security door code five times before using an emergency override; the co-pilot eventually opened the door manually.
• Autopilot maintained stable flight during the incident, and the flight was diverted to Madrid, where the co-pilot was hospitalized and later had his medical certificate suspended.
• The Spanish Aviation Accident Investigation Authority (CIAIAC) has urged the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to review cockpit staffing policies and enhance pilot health screenings.