A passenger plane went majorly off-course when both the pilot and co-pilot fell asleep at the controls.
The Indonesian Batik Air flight veered off its path after the two aviators dozed off for nearly half an hour.
This scary incident, which could have ended in disaster for the 153 passengers on board, has led to the suspension of the pilots.
Even though modern planes have automated systems that handle many flying tasks, it’s crucial for pilots to ensure the aircraft stays on the correct path. If they stray from approved routes, there’s a risk of colliding with other planes.
The plane was travelling from South East Sulawesi to Jakarta, the capital city, when this happened in January this year, according to the Jakarta Globe.
An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Committee found that one of the pilots didn’t get enough sleep the night before as he was looking after his twin babies.
About half an hour into the two-hour, 35-minute flight, the captain asked his second-in-command for a short break. The co-pilot took over the controls but then also fell asleep, reports the Mirror.
A few minutes after the co-pilot’s last recorded message, Jakarta’s area control centre tried to reach the plane but got no response. The report reveals that it was 28 minutes after this last message when the pilot woke up and found his co-pilot asleep and the plane off course.
Once he woke his colleague, the pilot answered Jakarta’s calls and corrected their route. Despite the scare, the Airbus A320’s 153 passengers and four crew members were unharmed during the flight.
M. Kristi Endah Murni, the air transport director-general at the Indonesian transport ministry, said she “strongly reprimands” Batik Air over the incident.
She urged airlines to ensure their crews get enough rest.
“We will carry out an investigation and review of the night flight operation in Indonesia related with Fatigue Risk Management for Batik Air and all flight operators,” Kristi said in a statement.
The report also noted that the co-pilot had a 53-hour rest period before January 25. However, he had newborn twins at home and was busy moving his family to a new house during this time.
In a statement released on Saturday, Batik Air assured, “operates with adequate rest policy” and that it was “committed to implement all safety recommendations”.
The investigators did not reveal the identities of the pilots, though they said both were Indonesians, aged 32 and 28.
Their statement further mentioned that the pilots involved in the incident on January 25th had been temporarily suspended.
