The National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) of Indonesia recently published a report detailing an alarming incident involving the captain and copilot of a domestic flight carrying 153 passengers. The incident took place on a Batik Air Airbus A320 aircraft during a return flight from Kendari to Jakarta in January.
According to the report, the 32-year-old captain took a nap with the copilot's permission while the plane was cruising at 36,000 feet. After waking up and offering the copilot a rest, the captain fell back asleep. Subsequently, the copilot also unintentionally fell asleep, leaving the first officer to handle communications with air traffic controllers and flight attendants for about 20 minutes.
When the captain woke up and realized the situation, the aircraft had veered off-course. The captain then falsely claimed a 'radio communication problem' to air traffic controllers. Fortunately, the plane landed in Jakarta without further issues.
Long-haul flights typically have relief pilots to ensure adequate rest for each pilot. However, on short-haul flights like this one, controlled rest periods are more common, allowing one pilot to rest briefly while the other monitors the controls to manage fatigue and enhance safety.
The KNKT report highlighted that the copilot had not rested sufficiently the night before the flight. While the report acknowledged safety measures taken by the airline, it also recommended additional guidance on checking pilots' physical and mental conditions and conducting cockpit checks.
Batik Air, the airline involved, stated that it follows an adequate rest policy and is committed to implementing all safety recommendations. The incident underscores the importance of ensuring pilot well-being and adherence to safety protocols to prevent such occurrences in the future.
