Imagine cruising at 36,000 feet, comfortably ensconced in your seat, when unbeknownst to you, both pilots at the helm of your flight are sound asleep. This is not the plot of a suspense thriller but a real incident that occurred on a Batik Air flight in Indonesia. The National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) of Indonesia has opened an inquiry after two pilots fell asleep for nearly 30 minutes on a flight carrying 153 passengers.
The flight in question was en route from South East Sulawesi to Jakarta on January 25, a journey that typically spans two hours and 35 minutes. According to the preliminary report, the pilots, a 32-year-old and a 28-year-old, both Indonesian, had been deemed fit to fly, passing health checks and alcohol tests. However, fatigue seemed to have taken its toll, particularly on the second-in-command who had been caring for his one-month-old twins and had moved residences the day before the flight.
The incident unfolded when the pilot in command asked his deputy for permission to rest, which was granted. After the first pilot woke up, the second pilot, despite declining an offer to rest, inadvertently dozed off as well. During this time, the aircraft veered off its designated path, and multiple attempts by Jakarta’s area control center to contact the flight went unanswered. It was only after 28 minutes that the first pilot awoke, realized the situation, and corrected the flight path.
While the passengers and crew remained unharmed and the plane landed safely in Jakarta, the occurrence has raised serious concerns about pilot fatigue and airline safety protocols. Maria Kristi Endah Murni, Indonesia’s civil aviation director, expressed strong reprimand towards Batik Air and emphasized the need for a thorough investigation and review of night flight operations in relation to fatigue risk management.
The airline industry globally has been grappling with the issue of fatigue among pilots and cabin crew. A survey by an aviation safety consultancy for the European Cockpit Association found that 3 out of 4 pilots had fallen asleep while flying a plane in the month before the survey. This incident with Batik Air underscores the critical importance of ensuring that aircrew are sufficiently rested and alert during flights.
In response to the incident, Batik Air has temporarily suspended the two pilots and affirmed its commitment to implementing all safety recommendations. The airline maintains that it operates with an adequate rest policy. The KNKT has urged the airline to conduct regular cockpit checks and ensure that pilots and cabin crew are rested before their flights.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the perils of pilot fatigue and the paramount importance of vigilance in air travel. As the inquiry unfolds, it will be crucial for airlines to reassess their policies and for passengers to remain informed about the measures being taken to safeguard their journeys. The skies may be friendly, but they demand the utmost respect for safety and protocol, a lesson that Batik Air and the aviation industry at large are being reminded of in the wake of this eye-opening episode.
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