Who To Blame When Both Pilots Fall Asleep

How would you feel relaxing mid flight if you knew both your pilots were asleep at the helm? Well, this is exactly what happened on a 2.5 hour Batik Air flight last week. According to a report from the transport ministry, when the flight ascended to 36,000 feet roughly thirty minutes post-takeoff, the 32-year-old pilot instructed his co-pilot, who was 28 years old, to assume command of the aircraft, citing his need for rest. Agreeing to the pilot’s request, the co-pilot, who had recently become a father to one-month-old twins and was aiding in childcare duties due to his wife’s recent delivery, nodded off while at the controls. The report highlighted his struggles with sleep, exacerbated by his recent relocation the day before the flight. We have come a long way with acceptance of mental health in the workplace and resultant ‘mental health days’. Could we do do the same with sleep deprivation especially for those who are in a ‘careers’ role? Currently many countries around the world have parental and careers leave of a few weeks for secondary careers. However, anyone who’s been in this position knows that the sleep deprivation goes on for years not mere weeks. Pre-flight medical examinations had determined both pilots were fit to fly, with normal blood pressure, heart rate, and negative alcohol tests. Investigations however reveal the co-pilot had informed the senior pilot of his inadequate rest, as detailed in the report.

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