No pilot for 10 minutes during a Lufthansa flight in 2024 because of fainting incident, report says

BERLIN (AP) — A Lufthansa formation to Spain past twelvemonth went without a aviator for 10 minutes aft the co-pilot fainted portion helium was unsocial successful the cockpit, German quality bureau dpa reported connected Saturday.

During the formation from Frankfurt to Seville, Spain, connected Feb. 17, 2024, the co-pilot of an Airbus A321 fainted portion the skipper was successful the restroom, dpa reported, referring to a study by the Spanish mishap probe authorization CIAIAC.

The aircraft, which was carrying 199 passengers and six unit members, flew for astir 10 minutes without a aviator successful bid of the plane, according to the report.

Lufthansa told dpa that it was alert of the probe study and that its ain formation information section had besides conducted an investigation. The institution didn't disclose its results, dpa said.

Although the unconscious co-pilot seemingly operated controls unintentionally, the craft was capable to proceed flying successful a unchangeable mode acknowledgment to the progressive autopilot. During this clip period, the dependable recorder recorded unusual noises successful the cockpit that were accordant with an acute wellness emergency, dpa reported.

The skipper initially tried entering the regular doorway opening code, which triggers a buzzer successful the cockpit truthful that the co-pilot tin unfastened the door. He did truthful 5 times without being capable to participate the cockpit. A stewardess tried to interaction the co-pilot utilizing the onboard telephone.

Finally, the skipper typed successful an exigency codification that would person allowed him to unfastened the doorway connected his own. However, soon earlier the doorway would person opened automatically, the co-pilot opened it from the wrong contempt being ill, dpa reported.

The aviator past decided to marque an unplanned landing successful Madrid, wherever his workfellow was taken to a hospital.