An incident occurred in Indonesia where an aircraft deviated from its course due to both pilots falling asleep for approximately 28 minutes, as detailed in a preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT). The aircraft, belonging to Batik Air with the flight number BTK6723, was en route from Kendari in Southeast Sulawesi province to Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, on January 25. Despite the pilots' unconsciousness, the flight safely landed in Jakarta, and no passengers or crew members were harmed, nor was the aircraft damaged during the episode.
Following this alarming incident, the Indonesia Transport Ministry has announced its intention to launch a thorough investigation into the matter. According to the KNKT report, the sequence of events unfolded during the flight's preparation in Jakarta when the co-pilot expressed concerns about not having received adequate rest.Â
Subsequently, after the aircraft reached a cruising altitude of 36,000 feet, the pilot encouraged the co-pilot to take a nap, which lasted approximately 30 minutes. Later, when the aircraft departed from Kendari and the pilot sought permission to rest from the co-pilot, the situation escalated as both pilots ended up falling asleep, leaving the aircraft unattended for a significant duration.
The KNKT report elucidated that the pilot-in-command, a 32-year-old male, and the co-pilot, a 28-year-old male, who had recently become a father to twins, had faced challenges in maintaining sufficient sleep due to personal circumstances. It also noted that the pilots consumed instant noodles during the flight, highlighting the challenges they encountered in managing their fatigue.
In response to this incident, the Indonesia Transport Ministry has taken swift action by grounding the flight crews of BTK6723 per Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) pending further investigation. Additionally, the civil aviation director-general, M Kristi Endah Murni, has emphasized the need to review night flight operations in Indonesia, particularly focusing on Fatigue Risk Management for Batik Air and other flight operators. This incident underscores the critical importance of ensuring the well-being and alertness of flight crews to maintain the safety of air travel.
