Indonesia's transport ministry is set to investigate a recent
incident where both pilots of a Batik Air flight fell asleep, causing
navigational errors during a flight from Kendari to Jakarta.
According to the National Transportation Safety Committee, the pilots
simultaneously slept for 28 minutes, leading to a deviation from the
correct flight path.
The report revealed that the co-pilot had not received proper rest,
and after reaching cruising altitude, both pilots unintentionally fell
asleep.
Despite the flight successfully landing with no injuries or damage,
the incident has prompted a thorough investigation into fatigue
management for Batik Air and other flight operators.
The pilots involved, a 32-year-old pilot-in-command and a 28-year-old second-in-command, have not been named.
The transport ministry plans to review night flight operations in
Indonesia and dispatch a flight inspector to investigate the root cause
and recommend mitigation measures.