Indonesia Probes Aircraft Incident After Both Pilots Fell Asleep During Flight

Indonesian authorities are investigating the two pilots of local airline Batik Air after they were discovered to have fallen asleep for 28 minutes while on a flight.

On January 25, en route from Sulawesi to Jakarta, the two men reportedly slept off in the aircraft. They are both now suspended. Apparently, one of them was worn out from helping take care of his newborn twins.

All 153 people on board were uninjured when the Airbus A320 momentarily deviated from its intended path and landed safely.

A passenger plane from low-cost airline Batik Air lands on the runway, in front of Mount Seulawah in the background, at Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport in Blang Bintang, Aceh province on October 3, 2022.
(Photo : CHAIDEER MAHYUDDIN / AFP via Getty Images)

Drifted Off While Flying

According to BBC, the 32-year-old pilot had requested his co-pilot to take over flying duties around 30 minutes after takeoff, citing a need for rest. The transport ministry said that the 28-year-old co-pilot gave his consent. However, the co-pilot also slept off unknowingly. His account states that he was assisting with childcare after his wife gave birth to twins, who were one month old at the time.

Following the final recorded communication, air traffic control in Jakarta attempted to reach out to the Batik Air A320 cockpit, but they did not get a response.

When the lead pilot finally woke up after 28 minutes of radio silence, he discovered that his co-pilot had also dozed off. Additionally, he discovered that the plane had temporarily lost its route.

The pilots safely landed the jet after responding to calls from Jakarta.

The guys were cleared to travel by medical professionals before the trip. Their vitals (heart rate, blood pressure, and alcohol levels) were checked and were all within normal ranges.

Stern Warning

Batik Air has now received harsh criticism from the authorities over the event. Fox News indicated that an inquiry has been launched to determine the cause of the issue.

Maria Kristi Endah Murni, Indonesia's chief of air transport, said that Batik Air also needs to be more mindful of the crew's rest periods. Batik Air responded, saying it has a sufficient rest policy for employees and would follow all safety requirements.

In 2019, the pilot of the same airline had to make an emergency landing after fainting, according to BBC.