Transport Ministry to Investigate Mid-Flight Snooze Incident on Batik Air
Jakarta (BERITAPOLITIK.ONLINE) — In the wake of a concerning mid-flight incident, the Indonesian Transportation Ministry’s Directorate General of Air Transport has pledged to conduct a thorough investigation. The incident, which transpired last January, involved both the pilot and co-pilot of a commercial flight reportedly falling asleep during the journey.
The flight in question, Batik Air ID 6723 (BTK6723), was en route from Kendari in Southeast Sulawesi to Jakarta. Lasting approximately two hours and 35 minutes, the flight encountered an unprecedented occurrence on January 25, 2024.
Director General M. Kristi Endah Murni, speaking to ANTARA on Saturday (09/03/2024), expressed the ministry’s commitment to scrutinize the incident and review night flight operations across Indonesia, particularly regarding Fatigue Risk Management for Batik Air and other flight operators.
In a stern response to the incident, the directorate general issued a rebuke to Batik Air, stressing the importance of ensuring adequate rest time and quality for pilots and flight crew members to maintain optimal alertness during flights.
As part of standard protocol, the flight crew of BTK6723 has been grounded pending further investigation, Director General Murni confirmed. The agency plans to dispatch a designated flight inspector authorized on Resolution of Safety Issue (RSI) to ascertain the root cause of the incident and propose mitigation measures to flight operators and supervisors.
Commending the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) for its comprehensive investigation into the BTK6723 incident, Director General Murni affirmed that penalties, if deemed necessary, will be imposed in accordance with the findings of the investigation team.
The KNKT’s preliminary report unveiled the severity of the incident, labeling it as a “serious incident.” Both the pilot and co-pilot were found to have been asleep simultaneously for 28 minutes mid-flight, leading to navigational errors as the aircraft deviated off-course during its approach to Java Island.
Fortunately, despite the gravity of the situation, no passengers sustained injuries, and the aircraft managed to land safely without any damage. The aircraft involved in the incident was identified as an Airbus A320 with registration number PK-LUV.
The investigation aims not only to determine accountability but also to enhance safety measures within the aviation industry to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
