Will we have planes fly with AI pilots in the future?

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Plane flew for 10 minutes with no one at the controls after co-pilot fainted



A Lufthansa flight to Spain flew with no one at the wheel for 10 minutes after the co-pilot lost consciousness while alone in the cockpit, according to a report from German news agency dpa.

The incident occurred on a flight from Frankfurt to Seville on February 17, 2024.

While the 43-year-old captain was using the restroom, the 38-year-old co-pilot of the Airbus A321 fainted.

That left the aircraft, which carried 199 passengers and six crew members, without anyone at the controls for approximately 10 minutes, dpa said.

The news agency cited a report from the Spanish accident investigation authority CIAIAC as the source of the information.


However, the airline declined to disclose the findings of its investigation.

Although the unconscious co-pilot apparently operated the controls unintentionally, the aircraft was able to continue flying in a stable manner thanks to the active autopilot.

During this time period, the voice recorder recorded strange noises in the cockpit that were consistent with an acute health emergency, dpa reported.

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