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Batik Air pilots fall asleep in the middle of the flight
Agency
Mac 9, 2024
The incident was revealed in a preliminary report by Indonesia's National Transport Safety Committee (KNKT). - Decorative picture/ Australian Aviation
A pilot and his assistant were found to be sleeping simultaneously for about 28 minutes during a Batik Air flight from Southeast Sulawesi to Jakarta on January 25.
The incident was revealed in a preliminary report by Indonesia's National Transport Safety Committee (KNKT), AFP reported.
According to the report, one of the pilots did not get enough rest the night before the flight.
About half an hour after the plane took off, the plane's captain asked permission from the co-pilot to take a short break.
The co-pilot then took over the plane, but accidentally fell asleep as well, the report said.
"The co-pilot had one-month-old twin babies. His wife took care of the babies and he helped out at home," the report said.
Minutes after the transmission of the last communication recorded by the co-pilot, the air traffic control center in Jakarta tried to contact the plane, but there was no answer.
"Twenty-eight minutes after the transmission of the last recorded communication, the pilot awoke and realized his co-pilot was asleep and the aircraft was not on the correct flight path.
"He immediately woke up his colleagues, answered calls from Jakarta and corrected the flight path," the report said.
A total of 153 passengers of the Airbus A320 and four flight attendants suffered no injuries during the two hour and 35 minute flight and it landed safely.
Investigators did not reveal the identities of the pilots, but said they were both Indonesian nationals aged 32 and 28.
KNKT urged Batik Air to establish detailed procedures to conduct proper and regular cockpit inspections and ensure pilots and cabin crew are well rested before their flights.
Batik Air did not provide any reaction when contacted by AFP.
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