Batik Air Pilots Falling Asleep Mid-flight; DPR Asks All Airlines to Implement KNKT Recommendations

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) reported that Batik Air flight BTK-6723 (ID-6723) veered off course during a flight from Kendari to Jakarta on January 25 after its pilots fell asleep. In response to the incident, DPR Commission V member Suryadi Jaya Purnama urged all airlines in Indonesia to implement KNKT's safety recommendations regarding the comprehensive and detailed guidelines and procedures for assessing pilots' condition during flight.

"The KNKT recommendations must be implemented immediately not only by Batik Air but also by all other airlines that have not completed these guidelines," Suryadi said in a statement received in Jakarta on March 10, as quoted by Antara.

He also asked the Transportation Ministry to be more active in checking the completeness of existing guidelines at each airline so that no important guidelines are missed, to prevent this incident from happening again.

Suryadi also called for strict sanctions against the pilot and co-pilot for endangering the safety of passengers.

Batik Air said it had taken disciplinary actions by temporarily suspending the pilot and co-pilot in question, who were said to have fallen asleep due to fatigue.

"On January 26, 2024, Batik Air took preventive action by temporarily deactivating (releasing) the pilot of flight number ID-6723, Kendari to Jakarta route, who was on duty on January 25, 2024," Batik Air's corporate communications strategic officer Danang Mandala Prihantoro told Antara in on Saturday, March 9.

TEMPO.CO

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