Indonesia is investigating a local firm, Batik Air, after both pilots were discovered asleep for 28 minutes mid-flight on January 25.
The two men were temporarily suspended during a flight to the capital, Jakarta.
The 32-year-old pilot, exhausted from caring for his newborn twins, handed control to the 28-year-old co-pilot, who was also inadvertently asleep due to caring for his one-month-old twins, the BBC reported.
Plane Landed Successfully
The Airbus A320 briefly veered off course but landed safely, and medical tests before the flight showed the pilots were physically fit.
However, the tests couldn’t assess the quality of their rest. Jakarta air traffic control unsuccessfully tried reaching the cockpit during the 28-minute radio silence.
Authorities have reprimanded Batik Air, emphasizing the need for the airline to prioritize crew rest.
Batik Air claims to operate with an adequate rest policy and vows to implement safety recommendations.
This incident comes after a 2019 emergency landing by the same airline due to a pilot fainting.
