Berlin (AP) – Lufthansa did not have a pilot for 10 minutes last year after the co-pilot fainted while in the cockpit.
The DPA reported that during a flight from Frankfurt to Seville, Spain, the captain fainted while in the bathroom while in the bathroom.
The plane, which carries 199 passengers and six crew members, flew for about 10 minutes without pilots directing the plane.
Lufthansa told DPA it was aware of the investigation report and its flight safety department also conducted an investigation. The DPA said the company did not disclose the results.
Although the unconscious copilot obviously operates controls unintentionally, the aircraft is able to continue flying in a stable manner due to active autopilot. During this period, the voice recorder recorded strange noises consistent with the acute emergency in the cockpit, DPA reported.
The captain initially attempted to enter the regular door opening code, which triggered a buzzer in the cockpit so that the co-pilot could open the door. He did this five times and was unable to enter the cockpit. The flight attendant tried to contact the co-pilot using the onboard phone.
Finally, the captain typed the emergency code, which would allow him to open the door himself. However, the DPA reported that the co-pilot opened it from the inside despite being sick.
The pilot then decided to make an unplanned landing in Madrid, and his colleagues were taken to the hospital.
