Airline pilots suspended after both fall asleep mid-flight for almost 30 minutes

An Indonesian pilot blamed his newborn twins after falling asleep mid-flight alongside his co-pilot, causing the plane to veer off course.

Indonesia is investigating Batik Air, a local carrier, after two pilots fell asleep for almost 30 minutes during a two-and-a-half-hour flight from Sulawesi to the capital of Jakarta.

The pilots have been suspended following the incident on Jan 25.

The Airbus A320 briefly deviated from its flight path but landed safely, with all 153 passengers and crew members unharmed.

When the flight reached an altitude of 36,000 feet about half an hour after take off, the 32-year-old pilot had told his co-pilot to take control of the aircraft, saying he needed to rest, the transport ministry reported.

The 28-year-old co-pilot agreed, but fell asleep at the controls. According to the report, his wife had just given birth to one-month-old twins and he was helping with childcare. He was struggling with sleep as a result and had also moved house the day before the flight.

Jakarta air traffic control tried contacting the cockpit of the Batik Air A320 several times following their last recorded transmission but received no response.

After 28 minutes of radio silence, the senior pilot woke up and realised that his co-pilot had also fallen asleep. He also found that the aircraft had briefly veered off course.

The pilot then responded to calls from Jakarta, explaining that the flight had experienced a “radio communication problem” which had now been resolved, and landed the plane safely.

Medical tests before the flight deemed that the men were fit to fly. Their blood pressure and heart rate were normal and alcohol tests came back negative.

However, during the flight preparation, the co-pilot advised the senior pilot that he had not had a proper rest, the report outlined.

Authorities have “strongly reprimanded” Batik Air over the incident, with M Kristi Endah Murni, Indonesia’s head of air transport, saying that Batik Air should pay more attention to its crew’s rest time.

“We will carry out an investigation and review of the night flight operation in Indonesia related with fatigue risk management for Batik Air and all flight operators,” she said in a statement.

Batik Air has said it “operates with adequate rest policy” and that it was “committed to implement all safety recommendations”.