Chapter 9 High Availability for FortiOS 5.0 : HA and failover protection : Link failover (port monitoring or interface monitoring) : If a monitored interface on a subordinate unit fails
  
If a monitored interface on a subordinate unit fails
If a monitored interface on a subordinate unit fails, this information is shared with all cluster units. The cluster does not renegotiate. The subordinate unit with the failed monitored interface continues to function in the cluster.
In an active-passive cluster after a subordinate unit link failover, the subordinate unit continues to function normally as a subordinate unit in the cluster.
In an active-active cluster after a subordinate unit link failure:
The subordinate unit with the failed monitored interface can continue processing connections between functioning interfaces. However, the primary unit stops sending sessions to a subordinate unit that use any failed monitored interfaces on the subordinate unit.
If session pickup is enabled, all sessions being processed by the subordinate unit failed interface that can be are failed over to other cluster units. Sessions that cannot be failed over are lost and have to be restarted.
If session pickup is not enabled all sessions being processed by the subordinate unit failed interface are lost.