Unmanned Lufthansa flight lasts ten minutes
In an unprecedented incident, a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to Seville in February 2024 was rocked by an in-flight medical emergency. The event, which took place around 10:31 AM, was caused by an epilepsy-like seizure due to an undiagnosed neurological condition suffered by the co-pilot. According to the report, the captain had left the cockpit for a toilet break at the time. Suspicious noises were picked up on the cockpit voice recorder 36 seconds after the captain's departure, indicating that the aircraft was without conscious control by a qualified pilot for about ten minutes. During this period, the co-pilot seemed normal before the seizure occurred. The co-pilot's condition was not detected during flight medical examinations, highlighting the need for more comprehensive pre-flight health checks. The co-pilot, who has not been publicly named, regained consciousness and manually unlocked the cockpit door before an emergency code automatically opened it. The cockpit security-locked door, designed to prevent unauthorized access, was activated during this time. Following the incident, the Civil Aviation Investigation Authority Commission (CIAIAC) released a final report praising the crew's reaction as professional and effective. The report, however, does not mention any changes to the current cockpit access system. In response to the incident, the CIAIAC recommends that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) re-evaluate cockpit safety for Lufthansa and other airlines. The aim of the EASA review is to ensure the continuous presence of at least two people in the cockpit. It's important to note that this recommendation was previously made after the 2015 Germanwings crash but was later relaxed in 2016. The CIAIAC's recommendation comes as a call to strengthen cockpit safety measures to prevent such incidents in the future. The incident happened while the flight was in Spanish airspace. The CIAIAC's report concludes by emphasising the importance of collaboration between airlines, regulatory bodies, and medical professionals to ensure the safety and well-being of all passengers and crew members.
Read also:
- Americans Lose Insurance Under New Tax Legislation, Affecting 10 Million Citizens
- Quick Solution: Eliminating Acne Redness: A Handy Guide for You
- Postpartum Hemorrhagic Hypopituitarism: Understanding its Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments; Focus on Sheehan Syndrome.
- Bee colonies in Zirndorf city have been impacted by American foulbrood - a restricted area has been established. The public is assured that this situation doesn't pose a threat to citizens.
