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Indonesia probes Batik Air for a mid-flight incident where pilots, suspended after nodding off for 28 minutes en route from Sulawesi to Jakarta, jeopardized safety.
The lead pilot, a 32-year-old father of newborn twins, and his 28-year-old co-pilot, also a new parent, lost contact with air traffic control, causing the Airbus A320 to stray off course.
Despite their ordeal, the aircraft, carrying 153 people, landed safely. Preliminary health checks showed the pilots were fit, yet didn’t assess their rest quality.
The incident, highlighting the need for stringent rest policies for crew, has led to Batik Air facing severe criticism, although the airline insists on its commitment to safety standards. This follows a 2019 emergency landing after a pilot’s health scare, underscoring the importance of cockpit vigilance.