Ventilation device, especially downdraft hood, for a cooking hob (2), comprising an actuator (3) for moving a telescoping section (5) of the ventilation device (1) between a fully retracted position (9) and a fully extended position (10) and a control unit (7) designed to control the actuator (3) to move the telescoping section (5) depending on a user input received via a main input element (17), wherein the control unit (7) is designed to control a fan (8) and/or an illumination device (31) for illuminating the cooking hob (2) depending on a user input received via at least one secondary input element (18 - 23) and depending on the position of the telescoping section (5) and/or in that the control unit (7) is designed to evaluate at least one error condition and to control a respective backlight (30) for illuminating the respective secondary input element (18 - 23) depending on the fulfilment of the error condition.