Do Pilots Ever Leave the Cockpit with Autopilot On?
No, quite the contrary. People tend to think of an aircraft flying without human assistance when they hear “autopilot.” This is somewhat correct. Nonetheless, aviation rules state that aircraft may not be operated alone or with minimal supervision at any time.
Pilots frequently take shifts doing things like going to the bathroom, eating, or sleeping, but there’s always at least one pilot in the cockpit. It isn’t uncommon for autopilot to malfunction; when it does, pilots completely control the plane. Whether or not pilots can finish their travel if autopilot goes down is determined by regulations; they must land and change planes if necessary.