Both pilots fall asleep on flight in Indonesia – unreachable for 28 minutes Tuesday: German engineers again call for strike

Both pilots fell asleep during a commercial flight in Indonesia. The incident, which took place in late January, ended on a light note – but now has consequences. The local Batik Air plane with 153 passengers on board was en route from Kendari on the island of Sulawesi to the capital Jakarta when the captain (32) asked his co-pilot (28) to rest after take-off. But then the co-pilot, the father of one-month-old twins, also fell asleep, the Transport Safety Authority (KNKT) reports.

Authorities said there was no communication with the cockpit for 28 minutes, while at the same time the plane veered off course. Then the captain woke up and noticed that his first officer was also asleep. He regained contact with the ground and corrected the flight path.

Batik Air said the two pilots had been temporarily suspended as a “preventive measure.” The company takes safety on all flights and a thorough investigation into the incidents very seriously, writes Batik Air. The airline undertakes to follow all recommendations of the aviation safety authority.

The KNKT called it a “serious incident” and used this as an opportunity to demand stricter controls on all flights in the country. Airlines should conduct regular cockpit checks and ensure their staff get enough sleep, the report said. (rbu/sda/dpa)