Ian Petchenik

 

Indonesian investigators released their preliminary report last week regarding a Batik Air flight from Kendari to Jakarta where both pilots fell asleep during the flight. Both pilots were asleep on the flight deck for nearly 30 minutes.

Batik Air flight 6723 departed Kendari (KDI) at 00:05 UTC (08:05 local time) for Jakarta, with a scheduled flight time of 1 hour, 25 minutes..

The flight climbed to a cruising altitude of 36,000 feet 32 minutes after takeoff. According to the preliminary safety recommendation report released by Indonesian investigators, the pilot in command (PIC) began a period of controlled rest shortly after reaching cruising altitude.

The PIC awoke at 01:22 UTC and asked if the second in command (SIC) wished to rest. The SIC declined and the PIC went back to sleep.

The SIC continued to communicate with air traffic control and flight attendants in the cabin, as well as navigating around poor weather.

At 01:43 the SIC contacted Jakarta controllers, received arrival instructions, and read back those instructions. This was the last communication from the aircraft until 02:11 UTC.

At 02:11 the PIC awoke and realized the flight was off course. He then woke up the SIC who had fallen asleep. The PIC at this point responded to repeated Jakarta ATC inquiries and informed them that the aircraft had experienced “a communication problem.”

The flight then adjusted course and landed in Jakarta without further incident at 02:40 UTC, reaching the gate at 02:47 UTC.

The KNKT report details the flight crew’s duty schedule leading up to the incident flight. Prior to operating ID6723, the crew operated the inbound flight ID6724, which departed Jakarta at 03:14 local time (19:14 UTC).

The flight landed at 07:11 local time at Kendari, after which the pilots both enjoyed instant noodle cups while preparing for the return flight.

The PIC was on rest for 35 hours prior to the first flight of the day. He awoke at 05:30 the day prior and went to sleep at 20:00. He then woke up at 22:00 and prepared to leave for the airport.

The SIC had been off duty for the two days prior to the flight. He spent the days prior moving to a new house, as he and his wife had one month old twins. He went to sleep at 19:00 local time on 24 January, but his sleep was interrupted multiple times to care for his twins. At 00:00 25 January, the SIC awoke to begin his duty day.

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