A Lufthansa Airbus A321, carrying over 200 people from Frankfurt to Seville, was left without a pilot in the cockpit for approximately 10 minutes after its first officer lost consciousness. The incident occurred on February 2024, when the captain was in the bathroom and the first officer was alone on the flight deck.
The investigation found that the first officer had a seizure due to an undiagnosed neurological condition, which caused him to lose consciousness suddenly. The captain tried to enter the cockpit but was unable to do so for eight minutes, prompting him to use the emergency access code to allow the first officer to recover and open the door.
The crew administered first aid, and the plane made an emergency landing in Madrid. The first officer was taken to the hospital, where he is being treated for his seizure disorder. The incident highlights the risks of one pilot being left alone on the flight deck, leading investigators to recommend that airlines reassess these risks.
Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/flight-left-no-pilot-for-10-minutes-first-officer-collapsed-2025-5