A Lufthansa flight flew for greater than 10 minutes and not using a acutely aware pilot final yr, in accordance with a report performed by the Spanish accident investigation authority CIAIAC.
An Airbus A321 flight was touring from Frankfurt, Germany, to Seville, Spain, on Feb. 17, 2024, when the co-pilot suffered a “sudden and extreme incapacitation,” shedding consciousness within the cockpit whereas the captain had stepped out of the cockpit for “physiological causes,” the investigation reported.
Autopilot was engaged throughout that point, in accordance with the report, permitting the flight, which carried 199 passengers and 6 crew members, to proceed flying in a steady method.
“We’re conscious of the report issued by the Spanish authorities,” Lufthansa Airways instructed Fox Information Digital.
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A Lufthansa Airbus A321 flight lands at Frankfurt Airport on Feb. 14, 2024. (Arne Dedert)
“Lufthansa has offered intensive and complete assist to the authorities of their work. As well as, Lufthansa’s flight safety division has performed its personal in depth investigation,” the airline mentioned, noting that they may not present any additional touch upon the report.
The Spanish investigation revealed that at 10:31 UTC, the captain left the flight deck to make use of the restroom moments earlier than the copilot collapsed alone. When the captain returned eight minutes later, repeated makes an attempt to unlock the door failed with the customary entry process. A cabin-crew intercom name to the flight deck additionally went unanswered.
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A view into the cockpit of a Lufthansa passenger aircraft is seen on April 25, 2024 in Germany. (Leonhard Simon)
After an emergency entry code was entered and moments earlier than the automated door was launched, the copilot opened the deck door manually from the within regardless of being sick, the report continued. The captain took management of the plane at 10:42 UTC.
The captain discovered the copilot “pale, sweating and transferring unusually,” in accordance with the investigation report. After a crew member and on board physician administered first support and suspected a attainable heart condition, the captain then diverted the aircraft to essentially the most appropriate airport and landed in Madrid roughly 20 minutes later. The copilot was then taken to the hospital.
A Lufthansa Airbus A321-100 parked on a tarmac. (aviation-images.com/Common Photos Group)
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The copilot was later recognized with a beforehand undetected neurological situation, the report mentioned.
