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AVIATION INDUSTRY - JAKARTA. The pilot and co-pilot of Batik Air reportedly fell asleep while flying the plane from Halu Oleo Airport, Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, to Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang, Banten, on Thursday (25/1).
The incident was revealed in a preliminary report released by the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT).
KNKT stated the type of aircraft flown by the sleeping pilot and co-pilot was an Airbus A320 with the registration number PK-LUV.
"This aircraft is operated by two pilots and four flight attendants. It operates as a scheduled passenger flight from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (WIII) Jakarta to Halu Oleo Airport (WAWW) Kendari and returns," KNKT wrote in its report.
Chronology of Batik Air pilot and co-pilot falling asleep
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KNKT explained, that the Batik Air aircraft with registration number PK-LUV initially made its first flight from Jakarta to Kendari on Thursday at 02.55 WIB.
Before the plane took off, the second in command (SIC) or co-pilot informed the pilot in command (PIC) or pilot that he was not well-rested.
Next, the plane took off towards Kendari at an altitude of 10,973 meters. During the flight, the pilot offered the co-pilot to rest due to his lack of rest.
The co-pilot then rested in the cockpit and slept for about 30 minutes. At that time, the pilot took over the co-pilot's duties as pilot monitoring (PM).
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KNKT wrote the co-pilot woke up before the plane began to descend. As the plane approached Kendari, Kendari Air Traffic Control (ATC) informed us that the weather was below the minimum standard for landing and the airport was still closed.
"The plane then held for about 30 minutes at Waypoint ESGIX located 14 Nm from the airport on bearing 260," KNKT explained.
According to KNKT, the plane landed in Kendari at 07.48 local time using runway 26 and parked at apron parking stand number 4.
"During this transit, both pilots ate instant noodles in the cockpit. After the passenger disembarkation was completed, the boarding process for the return flight to Jakarta began," KNKT explained.
The plane returns to Jakarta
After the boarding process was completed, the plane began to move for the return flight to Jakarta with flight number BTK6723.
Both pilots used headsets to monitor air traffic controller radio communication with the cockpit speaker on at minimal volume.
When the plane departed from Kendari to Jakarta, the pilot acted as PM and the co-pilot as pilot flying (PF).
When the plane reached a cruising altitude of 10,973 meters, both of them took off their headsets, and the volume of the cockpit speaker was increased.
The pilot then asked the co-pilot for permission to rest.
The pilot woke up to have a non-duty conversation for about 30 seconds, but he continued to rest.
Pilot sleeps
While flying, the co-pilot requested to fly at position 275 degrees to avoid bad weather to the area control center (ACC) Makassar, and was approved.
He then communicated with the crew through the intercom to ask about the condition of the passengers because he felt the plane was experiencing light turbulence.
The crew responded to the co-pilot and explained that the passengers were fine.
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The co-pilot then reported to ACC Makassar that the plane was flying in the direction of 250 degrees.
ACC Makassar received the pilot's report and instructed her to report back when the plane was safe from bad weather conditions.
Next, ACC Makassar instructed BTK6723 to contact the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) ACC Jakarta.
The co-pilot made initial contact with ACC Jakarta. BTK6723 was instructed to follow KURUS 2G Standard Instrument Arrival (STAR) and report when the plane was clear of bad weather conditions.
At that time, the plane was flying in the direction of 250 degrees and was about 125 Nm east of Waypoint KURUS.
Co-pilot falls asleep
After re-reading the instructions from ACC Jakarta, the co-pilot accidentally fell asleep.
After 12 minutes of the last recorded transmission from the co-pilot, ACC Jakarta asked BTK6723 how long the plane had to fly at its current position or 250 degrees.
However, there was no response from the co-pilot. ACC Jakarta then called BTK6723 and there was no response from the pilot.
Several attempts to contact BTK6723 were made by ACC Jakarta, including asking other pilots to contact BTK6723. Again, none of the calls were answered.
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About 28 minutes after the last recorded transmission from the co-pilot, the pilot woke up and realized that the plane was not on the correct flight path.
The pilot then saw the co-pilot sleeping and woke him up. Almost simultaneously, the pilot responded to calls from other pilots and ACC Jakarta.
Next, the pilot informed ACC Jakarta that BTK6723 had a radio communication problem and it had been resolved.
The flight then continued and landed smoothly in Jakarta. There were no casualties in this incident.
Meanwhile, Kompas.com, on Saturday (9/3) morning, contacted Corporate Communications Strategic of Batik Air Danang Mandala Prihantoro to confirm one of the Batik Air pilots and co-pilots who fell asleep while flying the plane.
However, until Saturday afternoon, the local airline representative has not responded.
This article has been published on Kompas.com titled: "Batik Air Pilot and Co-Pilot Fell Asleep during Kendari-Jakarta Flight, Plane Temporarily Off Course"
