Overview

• A Lufthansa Airbus A321 with over 200 passengers flew for 10 minutes without a pilot after the first officer collapsed while the captain was in the bathroom.
• The captain regained cockpit access using an emergency code and diverted the flight to Madrid, where the first officer received medical treatment.
• Spanish investigators identified a seizure disorder caused by a neurological condition as the reason for the first officer's incapacitation.
• The final report recommends the European Union Aviation Safety Agency notify airlines and reevaluate the risks of allowing a single pilot in the cockpit.
• The incident highlights gaps in medical screening for latent conditions and the reliance on emergency access protocols for cockpit security.