Indonesian airline pilots fell asleep mid-flight, says safety agency

The pilot and co-pilot were simultaneously asleep for approximately 28 minutes during a Batik Air flight from Sulawesi to Jakarta in January. - PHOTO: BATIK AIR/FACEBOOK via The Straits Times/ANN

JAKARTA (AFP): The Indonesian air safety agency has called for better pilot fatigue monitoring mechanisms, after an investigation revealed that both pilots of a commercial aircraft had recently fallen asleep in-flight.

A pilot and co-pilot were simultaneously asleep for approximately 28 minutes during a Batik Air flight from South East Sulawesi to the capital Jakarta on January 25, a preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) said.