BENGALURU, India — October 31, 2026 — A Lufthansa crew member on a layover in Bengaluru has died after a suspected electrocution in the outdoor swimming pool of the Conrad Bengaluru hotel. A second guest, a Slovak IBM project manager, also died, and two people who tried to rescue them were injured.
What happened
- When and where: Friday evening, October 30, 2026, at around 6:30 p.m. (per The Week), in the third-floor outdoor pool of the five-star Conrad Bengaluru in the Ulsoor (Halasuru) area. The hotel is part of Hilton’s Conrad brand.
- The victims: Alexander Maximilian Theiss, 57, a German Lufthansa crew member staying at the hotel on a work layover, and Juraj Horvat, 45, a Slovak project manager with IBM. Reports say the two men suffered severe electric shocks while swimming.
- Rescuers injured: An American guest, Mathew Desantis, 41, and hotel lifeguard Rahul Tiwari, 28, were hurt trying to help. Both were taken to Manipal Hospital and are reported stable and out of danger.
- Deaths: Theiss was brought dead to Manipal Hospital. Horvat did not respond to resuscitation and was declared dead at the hospital.
Investigation
- Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said preliminary findings point to suspected electrical leakage, according to Aviation A2Z. The exact cause has not been confirmed.
- Police are investigating jointly with the city’s electricity utility (BESCOM) and water board (BWSSB). Experts are checking the pool’s pump system, underwater lighting and earthing connections. Forensic, technical and post-mortem reports are awaited.
- The wife of one of the victims filed a complaint alleging negligence. Halasuru police have registered a case against the hotel’s management and staff for causing death by negligence. No arrests have been reported.
- The hotel told The Federal it could not make detailed statements yet and would issue an official statement on Sunday. A notice on its website says the outdoor pool is closed for maintenance from October 31 through November 30, 2026, according to Aviation A2Z.
Lufthansa’s response
In an emailed statement reported by Aviation A2Z, Lufthansa confirmed that one of its crew members died following an accident during a layover in Bengaluru on Friday, expressed its condolences and asked for privacy for the family. The airline gave no further details. Lufthansa flies daily to Bengaluru from Frankfurt and Munich; Paddle Your Own Kanoo reports both return flights left on schedule early Saturday.
What it means for non-revs
- Layover safety: Crew and staff travelers using hotel pools abroad should be cautious about pools with underwater lighting or nearby electrical equipment, especially where standards may differ from home. If you feel any tingling or shock in the water, get out without touching metal rails or ladders and warn others.
- Don’t jump in to help: Both rescuers here were injured. If you suspect electricity in the water, shout for the power to be cut before anyone enters.
- Bengaluru flights: No change to Lufthansa’s Bengaluru schedule has been announced.
- Our thoughts are with the families, friends and colleagues of both men.
Sources
- Aviation A2Z — Lufthansa Crew Member Dies Among 2 Dead at Luxury Bengaluru Hotel (Oct. 31, 2026)
- Paddle Your Own Kanoo — Lufthansa Crew Member Electrocuted to Death in Luxury Hotel Swimming Pool During Layover in India (Oct. 31, 2026)
- The Federal — Business as usual at Conrad Bengaluru amid probe into fatal pool electrocution (Oct. 31, 2026)
- The Week — Suspected electrocution at Bengaluru 5-Star hotel pool kills Lufthansa crew member, Slovak IBM worker (Oct. 31, 2026)
- The News Minute — Two foreign nationals dead after suspected electrocution at Bengaluru hotel pool (Oct. 31, 2026)
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