Indonesia to open probe after airline pilots fell asleep midflight

Indonesia's Transport Ministry on Saturday announced its intention to launch an investigation into Batik Air, a local airline, following a concerning incident involving two of its pilots who were found asleep during a recent flight.

According to a preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT), both the pilot and co-pilot were simultaneously asleep for approximately 28 minutes during a flight from Southeast Sulawesi to Jakarta on January 25.

Despite the pilots' lapse in consciousness, the Airbus A320 safely transported its 153 passengers and four flight attendants over the two-hour-and-35-minute journey.

However, the incident led to several navigation errors, prompting the Transport Ministry to issue a strong reprimand to Batik Air. M. Kristi Endah Murni, the air transport director-general, emphasized the need for airlines to prioritize their crew's rest time and announced plans for an investigation into night-flight operations across Indonesia, specifically focusing on fatigue risk management for Batik Air and other flight operators.

In response, Batik Air released a statement on March 9, asserting its adherence to adequate rest policies and its commitment to implementing all safety recommendations.

The statement also revealed that the pilots involved in the January 25 incident had been temporarily suspended pending further investigation.