Inquiry as both pilots on flight fell asleep for nearly 30 minutes

The pilot and co-pilot were asleep for nearly 30 minutes. Photo: Stock image

Harry Suhartono

An Indonesian airline has suspended two pilots after they both fell asleep in the cockpit for almost half an hour during a domestic flight in late January.

Flight 6723 by Batik Air, a part of Indonesia’s Lion Group, was on its way to the capital Jakarta from Kendari in Sulawesi on January 25 with 153 passengers on board when neither the pilot or co-pilot responded to communications from the air traffic controller and another plane, according to the Indonesian National Transportation Safety Commission (NTSC).