Indonesian Pilots Asleep at the Controls: Call for Enhanced Fatigue Monitoring

The National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) of Indonesia has underscored the need for stringent pilot fatigue monitoring after uncovering that pilots of a Batik Air flight fell asleep during a journey. This incident occurred on a flight from South East Sulawesi to Jakarta on January 25, highlighting significant safety concerns within the aviation sector.

A preliminary investigation report revealed that the pilot and co-pilot were both asleep for about 28 minutes, leading to navigation errors during the flight. Despite the alarming oversight, the Airbus A320, carrying 153 passengers and four flight attendants, landed safely in Jakarta after a two-hour-and-35-minute flight without any harm to those on board.

The KNKT report, made available on the agency’s website, delves into the factors contributing to this dangerous lapse. It noted that the pilot had not obtained sufficient rest the night before the flight, compromising his ability to stay awake and alert. After taking off, the captain sought permission from the co-pilot to rest briefly, a request that was granted. However, the co-pilot, burdened with personal fatigue possibly due to caring for his one-month-old twins at home, also succumbed to sleep.

The situation escalated when, after the co-pilot’s last transmission, the Jakarta area control center’s attempts to communicate with the aircraft went unanswered. It was only 28 minutes later that the pilot awoke, discovered his co-pilot asleep, and quickly rectified the flight’s course after responding to the control center’s calls.

In light of this event, the KNKT has called on Batik Air to implement comprehensive measures to ensure cockpit vigilance and guarantee that both pilots and cabin crew are adequately rested before flights. This includes establishing detailed procedures for conducting regular cockpit checks.

This incident has cast a spotlight on Indonesia’s aviation safety standards, in a country where air travel is crucial due to its archipelagic nature yet plagued by a less-than-stellar air safety record. The pilots involved, both Indonesian nationals aged 32 and 28, were not identified in the report.

Batik Air has yet to comment on the findings or on the recommendations made by the KNKT. This case serves as a critical reminder of the importance of addressing pilot fatigue as part of broader efforts to enhance aviation safety and prevent similar incidents in the future.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, vanguardngr.com