A Lufthansa plane flying from Germany to Spain spent ten minutes in the air with no one in command. The captain had gotten up to go to the bathroom, the co-pilot fainted, and the cockpit door got locked. No one knew it at the time, but 200 passengers were crossing Europe with no one flying the plane. And even though it all happened in 2024, the topic is back in the spotlight now that the official report has been made public.
It all started with a bathroom break
The flight had taken off from Frankfurt and was heading to Seville. Everything was normal until, about 30 minutes before landing, the captain decided to go to the bathroom. In theory, nothing should have happened. The co-pilot stayed in command, like always.
But when he tried to get back in, the door wouldn’t open. He tried the security code several times, and nothing. From the outside, the crew tried to talk to the co-pilot through the intercom. Total silence. Not a single answer. And inside, no one was flying.
What happened to the co-pilot?
He was 38 years old and hadn’t shown any strange symptoms. But he fainted. When they managed to open the cockpit, they found him pale, sweating, and making strange movements. Luckily, he woke up in time, opened the door, and handed control back to the captain. At that point: control recovered.
Change of course and landing in Madrid
The pilot decided to divert the plane to Madrid, as a precaution. A doctor who was on board attended to the co-pilot, who was immediately taken to a hospital. There they confirmed he had suffered a serious neurological episode, linked to a condition that can cause seizures without warning.
The report hasn’t held back
The investigation, published by the Spanish authorities, has focused on a detail that hadn’t sparked debate until now: is it a good idea to leave a pilot alone, even for a moment? The recommendation goes to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, which will have to notify all airlines. The idea: this shouldn’t happen again.
Lufthansa remains silent… for now
The company hasn’t made any official statements. They say they’re analyzing what happened, but there are no sanctions or public changes to their protocols. Even so, the incident has put the issue on the table. And it’s not a minor debate.
Can something like this happen again?
As incredible as it seems, yes. It’s not common, of course, but the possibility exists. The risk of someone becoming incapacitated suddenly doesn’t go away, and current safety systems don’t fully cover it. That’s why there are already voices asking to add a third pilot or to develop backup systems that take control if something like this happens.
Are we really safe when we fly?
It’s a very uncomfortable question, but it is important to wonder it. Aviation IS one of the safest means of transport that exists, that’s true. But stories like this force us to rethink things we took for granted, don’t you?
Are you afraid of flying? Here are some tips:
- Accept the fear, it’s normal, recognizing it is the first step to overcome it
- Inform yourself but don’t obsess. Are you scared? Fine, study how a plane works and why it is so safe (but please, don’t watch accidents or crazy theories!)
- Choose your seat. You might have to pay a bit more, but sitting in the aisle will give you more peace of mind (especially if takeoff makes you panic)
- Breathe and distract yourself
- Avoid caffeine and alcohol, they can increase your anxiety
- Therapy! If it’s something you want to do but don’t know where to start, the best thing is to go to therapy, it will help you overcome that barrier so you can enjoy!
And yes, avoid these kinds of news!