Indonesia is conducting an investigation into local airline Batik Air after both pilots were discovered to have fallen asleep for 28 minutes during a mid-flight incident.
The incident occurred on a flight from Sulawesi to Jakarta on January 25th, prompting the temporary suspension of both pilots.
One of the pilots, aged 32, cited fatigue from caring for his newborn twins as a factor.
The Airbus A320 veered off course briefly but landed safely, with all 153 passengers and crew members unharmed.
According to a report from the transport ministry, the lead pilot, feeling fatigued, instructed the co-pilot to take control approximately half an hour after takeoff.
However, the co-pilot, aged 28, unintentionally fell asleep as well due to assisting with childcare for his one-month-old twin babies.
Following their last recorded transmission, Jakarta air traffic control attempted to contact the cockpit of the Batik Air A320 but received no response for 28 minutes.
Eventually, the lead pilot woke up, realizing his co-pilot had also fallen asleep, and observed the aircraft’s brief deviation off course.
They then responded to calls from Jakarta and safely landed the plane.
Although medical tests conducted before the flight indicated the pilots were fit to fly, aviation expert Alvin Lie noted that the tests did not assess the quality of their rest.
Authorities have criticized Batik Air over the incident, emphasizing the need for the airline to prioritize crew rest time.
Batik Air has stated its commitment to implementing safety recommendations and highlighted its policy on adequate rest.
This isn’t the first time Batik Air has faced such issues; in 2019, the airline had to make an emergency landing after a pilot fainted.
Source-BBC
