28 minutes of horror: Indonesian pilots dozed off mid-air with 153 passengers on board, suspended
captain of the flight reportedly asked his junior to take over the command as he needed to rest. The 28-year-old took the responsibility of flying the aircraft but dozed off as he was tired of helping his wife with the childcare of their one-month-old twin babies. Meanwhile, the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) attempted to contact the pilots on board Batik Air flight but received no response.
Around 28 minutes later, the senior pilot woke up and found his junior sleeping. The flight was not on the right course but he managed to bring it back and land safely with all the passengers. Indonesia's aviation regulator pulled up Batik Air for the huge safety lapse and asked the airline to make sure its pilots were properly rested and fit to fly.
In its response, Batik Air emphasised its "adequate rest policy" and said that it follows all the safety protocols. The pilots of the flight concerned were tested before the takeoff, and they were found to be medically fit to fly. The reports claim that their blood pressure level and heart rates were normal and their alcohol test came back negative.
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