Photo: FlightAware
We all know that pilots rely on a lot of technology when flying planes, but still, we don’t expect them to fall asleep in the cockpit – not when they’re without any other human backup, at least.
The Australia Transport Safety Bureau is investigating an incident that occurred earlier this month, when the pilot of a small charter plane from Vortex Air fell asleep at the commands, quite literally so. The result was that he missed the airport he was supposed to be landing at by almost 50km (approximately 30 miles), the Daily Mail reports, citing findings uncovered by The Australian.
Breathing new life into the phrase “sleeping on the job,” this pilot dozed off on a flight from Devenport, Tasmania to King Island. He eventually got the bird down at the King Island Airport, but not before “overshooting” the destination. The photo attached to his article shows the plane’s trajectory.
Presumably, the pilot woke up (or was woken up) right after missing the landing point, so he brought the aircraft back and landed it safely. It could be that the passengers on the plane never had any idea of what happened.
The case is described as one of “pilot incapacitation” and the ATSB is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. Their findings will be made public in March 2019, when the investigation is due to finish. It will include interviews with the pilot and a thorough study of operational Vortex Air procedures.
“Flight tracking data showed the 6.21am flight landed safely at King Island Airport near the town of Currie despite overshooting its target by 46km,” the Mail notes. “The data showed the trip was one of seven flights flown that day by the Piper PA-31 Navajo VH-TWU. The twin-engine plane can carry nine passengers and was built in 1975.”
The ATSB confirms that the pilot fell asleep before landing, saying, “during the cruise the pilot fell asleep resulting in the aircraft overflying King Island by 46km.” It describes the incident as a “serious operational incident.”
Breathing new life into the phrase “sleeping on the job,” this pilot dozed off on a flight from Devenport, Tasmania to King Island. He eventually got the bird down at the King Island Airport, but not before “overshooting” the destination. The photo attached to his article shows the plane’s trajectory.
Presumably, the pilot woke up (or was woken up) right after missing the landing point, so he brought the aircraft back and landed it safely. It could be that the passengers on the plane never had any idea of what happened.
The case is described as one of “pilot incapacitation” and the ATSB is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. Their findings will be made public in March 2019, when the investigation is due to finish. It will include interviews with the pilot and a thorough study of operational Vortex Air procedures.
“Flight tracking data showed the 6.21am flight landed safely at King Island Airport near the town of Currie despite overshooting its target by 46km,” the Mail notes. “The data showed the trip was one of seven flights flown that day by the Piper PA-31 Navajo VH-TWU. The twin-engine plane can carry nine passengers and was built in 1975.”
The ATSB confirms that the pilot fell asleep before landing, saying, “during the cruise the pilot fell asleep resulting in the aircraft overflying King Island by 46km.” It describes the incident as a “serious operational incident.”
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