- The pilot and co-pilot on an Indonesian domestic flight fell asleep for 28 minutes.
- One of the pilots said he suffered from lack of sleep the day before the flight, the report said.
- plane, Carrying 153 people, The plane landed safely in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia.
According to a report released by Indonesia's National Transport Safety Board (KNKT), the captain and co-pilot of an Indonesian domestic flight carrying 153 people fell asleep for nearly 30 minutes.
The incident occurred in January on a round-trip flight from Kendari, in the southeastern part of Indonesia's Sulawesi island, to the capital, Jakarta.
Batik Air Captain airbus The A320 (32 years old) took a nap with permission from the co-pilot while cruising at an altitude of 36,000 feet.
About 45 minutes later, the captain woke up and offered to let the first officer (28) rest, but the first officer refused and the captain fell asleep again.
The co-pilot then spent approximately 20 minutes communicating with air traffic controllers and flight attendants before they also “accidentally” fell asleep, the report said.
Twenty-eight minutes after the first officer's last recorded communication, the captain awoke to find the first officer asleep and flying off course.
After waking them up, the captain responded to a call from another pilot and an air traffic controller, claiming he had experienced a “radio communication problem.”
The plane then landed in Jakarta without any problems.
On many long-haul flights, a rescue pilot is assigned to ensure each pilot is well-rested while the pilot takes control.
Managed rest periods are more common on short-haul flights, such as Batik Air flights, which take approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes. One pilot can close their eyes for a short time while the other continues to monitor air traffic control.
Designed to manage fatigue and improve safety.
According to the KNKT report, the deputy commander did not get enough rest the night before the flight.
Investigators did not reveal the identities of the pilots, but said both were Indonesian nationals.
The report acknowledged that “the safety measures taken by aircraft operators were deemed to be relevant to improving safety,” but did not provide guidance on checking the physical and mental condition of pilots or conducting cockpit checks. Beyond the additions, it also makes several safety recommendations.
Batik Air said in a statement that it “operates under appropriate rest policies” and is “committed to implementing all safety recommendations,” Mail Online reported.
Business Insider has reached out to Batik Air for comment.
