A disturbing event occurred on a Lufthansa flight when the aircraft was left without an active pilot for nearly ten minutes. This incident took place on February 17, 2024, during a journey from Germany to Spain, as reported by a German news agency. The Airbus A321 was carrying 199 passengers along with six crew members when one pilot lost consciousness while the other was momentarily away from the cockpit.

Reports indicate that the pilot, aged 43, had entrusted his 38-year-old colleague with flight operations with about half an hour remaining in the flight. After approximately eight minutes, the captain returned but found himself unable to access the cockpit despite multiple attempts using the security code. Tensions rose as his calls via intercom went unanswered.

Eventually, the captain had to use an emergency access code. Meanwhile, the co-pilot regained consciousness and managed to open the cockpit door from the inside. Upon entering, the captain appeared pale and was sweating heavily. First aid was administered by the cabin crew and a doctor who happened to be a passenger. Preliminary reports suggested a potential heart condition.

Lufthansa has acknowledged that their flight safety department is conducting a separate investigation into the incident, although the findings have yet to be made public. The aircraft remained stable thanks to the autopilot system, despite some unintended control inputs from the co-pilot. Additionally, the cockpit voice recorder captured unusual sounds, hinting at a medical emergency.