Plane Swerve Off Course After Both Pilots Fell Asleep

Two Batik Air pilots fell asleep during a recent flight, prompting Indonesia’s Transport Ministry to open an investigation, according to state news outlet Antara, which cited the Ministry’s civil aviation director-general, M Kristi Endah Murni.

In a preliminary report made public by the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT), it is stated that on January 25, while traveling from Kendari in Southeast Sulawesi province to Jakarta, the pilot and co-pilot both dozed off at the same time for 28 minutes. This resulted in navigational errors because “the aircraft was not in the correct flight path.”

According to the KNKT preliminary investigation, no one on board—153 passengers and 4 flight attendants—was hurt during the trip, and the aircraft was undamaged.

The flight, BTK6723, arrived safely in Jakarta after two hours and thirty-five minutes of flying time, according to Antara and the preliminary report. The report states that earlier in the day, the co-pilot of the second-in-command had informed him that he had not gotten “proper rest.”

Before the incident, the second-in-command was able to get a few hours of sleep, “about 30 minutes.” The second-in-command assumed control of the aircraft after the pilot-in-command requested permission to take a break after the aircraft left Kendari and reached cruising altitude.

Then, the report states, the second-in-command “inadvertently fell asleep” about ninety minutes into the flight. The Jakarta Area Control Center (ACC) attempted to contact the aircraft 12 minutes after the co-pilot’s last known message but received no response.

The pilot-in-command became aware that the aircraft was not on the intended flying route when he awoke, some 28 minutes after the last signal was captured on record. It stated that he then awoke the second-in-command and replied to the ACC.

According to the preliminary assessment, the pilot-in-command informed the ACC that there had been a “radio communication problem” throughout the flight, but that it had now been fixed.

The report named the pilot-in-command as a 32-year-old male Indonesian, and the second-in-command as a 28-year-old male Indonesian, but did not disclose the identities of the pilots.

According to the article, one of the pilots, the second-in-command had twins that were one month old and “had to wake up several times to help his wife take care of the babies.”

“We will conduct an investigation and review of the night flight operation in Indonesia regarding the Fatigue Risk Management for Batik Air and other flight operators,” Murni said in a statement, according to Antara.

She said that following standard operating procedure, the flight crews of BTK6723 have also been grounded while an investigation is conducted, as reported by the news agency.

She added that a flight inspector approved of the Resolution of Safety Issue (RSI) which will be sent by the agency to look into the incident’s cause and suggest mitigating actions to supervisors and flight operators.

Be careful how you use your authority and influence, be wise, and treat others with respect.

Chychy Jonas