Sleeping Pilots Incident: Indonesian Plane Veers Off Course
- IndiaGlitz, [Tuesday,March 12 2024]
Indonesian transport authorities said a plane in Indonesia veered off course after both pilots fell asleep mid-air, briefly putting 153 passengers in danger. The incident occurred on a Batik Air flight, but the plane plunged safely with no harm to passengers or crew after one of the pilots woke up. Authorities immediately suspended both pilots for further investigations.
About 30 minutes into the flight, one pilot asked the other to take control temporarily so that he could nap; the pair later fell asleep. For 28 minutes, the cockpit did not respond to Jakarta air traffic controllers' signals. The first one only realized the near disaster when they awoke to find the plane had veered off course and took control of the wheel.
The National Transportation Safety Committee said the co-pilot was exhausted from caring for his newborn twins, which made him unable to stay awake. Before the flight, medical tests confirmed normal blood pressure and negative alcohol tests for both pilots, providing clear evidence of their fitness to be on board.
The pilots were grounded for a certain period of time, and Batik Air has been slapped with severe reprimands by the authorities. The airline stated that it has sufficient rest policies and promised to implement all safety suggestions in an effort to avoid such an incident in the future.
Another clear example is this: the huge and paramount importance of having completely rested and fit-for-duty crews for the safe conduct of air travel. Staying vigilant and following safety protocol to the letter would be of the utmost importance for keeping such potentially disastrous events at bay.
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