Indonesian Airline Batik Air Under Investigation After Pilots Fall Asleep During Flight
In a shocking incident, the Indonesian Transport Ministry has announced an investigation into local airline Batik Air after two of its pilots reportedly fell asleep during a recent flight. According to a report by the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT), both the pilot and co-pilot were asleep simultaneously for 28 minutes during a flight from Kendari to Jakarta on January 25th, causing navigation errors as the aircraft veered off course.
Fortunately, no one on board the flight, which included 153 passengers and four flight attendants, was injured, and there was no damage to the aircraft. The flight successfully landed in Jakarta after two hours and 35 minutes. The KNKT report revealed that the second-in-command pilot had expressed concerns about not receiving adequate rest before the flight, and had only managed to sleep for about 30 minutes prior to takeoff.
After reaching cruising altitude, the chief pilot also requested to rest, leaving the second-in-command pilot in charge. However, about 90 minutes into the flight, the second-in-command pilot fell asleep involuntarily. It took nearly 28 minutes for the chief pilot to wake up and realize the aircraft was off course, prompting corrective action.
The pilots involved have been suspended pending further investigation, and the Transport Ministry has vowed to conduct a review of night flight operations in Indonesia to address Fatigue Risk Management for Batik Air and other flight operators. An authorized flight inspector will also be assigned to investigate the incident and make recommendations for mitigation measures.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.