An investigation is being conducted into whether a Jet Airways pilot was sleeping on the job.Credit: Twitter
Authorities are investigating how a Jet Airways aircraft dropped more than 1500 metres in airspace over Turkey while the pilot was reportedly asleep.
An aviation regulator is looking into whether the co-pilot was also dozing as the Boeing 777-300 travelled from Mumbai to Brussels last Friday, the Times of India reported.
Apparently the pilot was taking a “controlled rest”, which means napping as allowed. The co-pilot, who was supposed to be in charge during this time, claimed she was busy on her tablet and didn’t notice the aircraft had lost altitude.
The pair were unaware of the situation until they received an emergency call from an air traffic controller asking why the plane had moved from its assigned flight level of 34,000 feet (10,363 metres).
The change in altitude meant the 300-passenger jet was flying awry in busy airspace.
Following the flight, the crew then failed to report it to India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the Daily Mail reported.
The regulator was only alerted when it received an anonymous text message about the uncontrolled descent.
The pilot and co-pilot have been suspended while the investigation is ongoing.
Jet Airways has launched its own internal investigation to find out what happened.
Stuff.co.nz
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