Lufthansa Crew Electrocuted in Bengaluru Pool: 2 Dead

A 57-year-old Lufthansa crew member died and a second hotel guest was killed on Friday evening, October 30, 2026, when they were electrocuted in the rooftop swimming pool of the five-star Conrad Hotel in Bengaluru, India. The Lufthansa crew member electrocuted Bengaluru incident also left two rescuers injured, and police have opened a negligence investigation into the suspected electrical failure.

What happened at the Conrad Hotel Bengaluru?

Around 5:30 p.m. local time on October 30, 2026, the third-floor swimming pool of the Conrad Bengaluru in the Halasuru (Ulsoor) neighbourhood became electrified. The deceased have been identified as Alexander Maximilian Theiss, 57, a German Lufthansa crew member on a layover, and Juraj Horvat, 45, a Slovak IBM project manager. Both men had gone for a swim after arriving at the hotel, which airlines commonly use to rest crew members between flights.

Two people who attempted to rescue the victims were also hurt: Mathew Desantis, 41, an American guest, and Rahul Tiwari, 28, an Indian pool attendant and lifeguard. Both were taken to Manipal Hospital and are reported to be out of danger, with some reports indicating they have been discharged. The Conrad Bengaluru, part of the Hilton group, is one of several hotels used for aviation crew layover hotel standards and crew rest between flights.

Who were the victims and rescuers?

The primary victim, Alexander Maximilian Theiss, was a 57-year-old German national serving as a Lufthansa crew member on a layover in Bengaluru. The second fatality, Juraj Horvat, was a 45-year-old Slovak IBM project manager. The injured rescuers were Mathew Desantis, a 41-year-old American hotel guest, and Rahul Tiwari, a 28-year-old Indian pool attendant and lifeguard, both treated at Manipal Hospital.

• Alexander Maximilian Theiss, 57 - German Lufthansa crew member (deceased)
• Juraj Horvat, 45 - Slovak IBM project manager (deceased)
• Mathew Desantis, 41 - American hotel guest (injured, out of danger)
• Rahul Tiwari, 28 - Indian pool attendant/lifeguard (injured, out of danger)

How did the pool become electrified?

Investigators suspect an electrical leakage, possibly from the pool's underwater lighting, but the exact cause has not been confirmed. German tabloid Bild reported that the shock may have occurred when the underwater lights switched on, citing anonymous sources. Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said forensic and technical reports are awaited.

According to a complaint filed by Theiss's wife, Silvia Ottawa, the men suffered an electric shock while trying to exit the pool and drowned. The complaint alleges negligence in pool maintenance. Police have registered a case under Section 106 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (death by negligence) at Halasuru Police Station. Electrical safety in hotel swimming pools has come under scrutiny, echoing wider hotel electrical safety regulations debates.

Airline response and hotel safety impact

Lufthansa confirmed the death of the 57-year-old crew member and said it was deeply saddened, offering its deepest condolences to the family and asking for privacy. KLM, which also uses the Conrad Bengaluru for crew layovers, confirmed that KLM crew members were at the hotel at the time of the accident but were not injured. Those employees have since left the hotel and returned to the Netherlands.

The hotel has closed the swimming pool for maintenance, reportedly from October 31 to November 30, 2026, while authorities conduct forensic and electrical safety checks. The incident has prompted renewed attention on airline crew safety protocols and hotel electrical maintenance standards in India.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened at the Conrad Hotel Bengaluru?

On October 30, 2026, two hotel guests were electrocuted in the third-floor swimming pool of the Conrad Bengaluru. A Lufthansa crew member and a Slovak IBM manager died, while two rescuers were injured.

Who were the victims of the Bengaluru pool electrocution?

The deceased were Alexander Maximilian Theiss, 57, a German Lufthansa crew member, and Juraj Horvat, 45, a Slovak IBM project manager.

What caused the swimming pool electrocution?

The exact cause is under investigation, but police suspect electrical leakage, possibly from underwater lighting. Forensic and technical reports are pending.

Were any other airline crew members affected?

KLM crew members were at the hotel at the time but were not injured. They have since returned to the Netherlands.

What is the hotel doing about the incident?

The Conrad Bengaluru has closed the pool for maintenance and says it is cooperating with authorities. A police case has been registered under death by negligence provisions.