Lufthansa Plane Flies 10 Minutes Without Any Pilot in the Cockpit

By Sonali Tiwari

A routine Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to Seville turned into a nightmare when the co-pilot suddenly had a seizure and lost consciousness at cruising altitude.

Photo Source: Olivier Cleynen (CC BY-SA 3.0)

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The captain, who had stepped out to use the bathroom, found himself locked out of the cockpit as his colleague lay unconscious at the controls.

Five desperate attempts to enter the security code failed as the aircraft continued on autopilot with 205 lives hanging in the balance.

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"Strange noises" captured by the voice recorder revealed the medical emergency unfolding behind the locked door as passengers remained unaware of the crisis.

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The security doors designed to protect against hijackers became a dangerous barrier keeping the only conscious pilot from reaching the controls.

What saved everyone? The autopilot system kept the Airbus A321 steady while the unconscious co-pilot was unable to respond to any communications.

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Just before the captain could attempt an emergency override code, the co-pilot regained enough consciousness to open the door.

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The captain discovered his colleague pale, sweating, and moving abnormally - clear signs of a serious medical condition no one knew he had.

With quick thinking, the captain diverted to Madrid - the closest airport - while an onboard doctor tended to the struggling co-pilot.

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All 199 passengers and 6 crew members landed safely, unaware how close they had come to potential disaster.

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Medical tests later revealed the co-pilot had a hidden brain condition that could trigger seizures - something no previous medical examination had detected.

The incident prompted European aviation authorities to question: Should two people always be required in the cockpit? What happens when safety features become dangerous barriers?

Photo Source: SuperJet International (CC BY-SA 2.0)