The two pilots of Ethiopian plane missed their runway descent after dozing off at 37,000 feet.
After two pilots missed an airport runway while dozing off during a flight, their licences have been suspended. At 37,000 feet, the pilots fell asleep, and air traffic control raised the alarm after trying in vain to get in touch with them.
Air traffic control desperately tried to contact the pilots when the plane missed the point of descent into Ethiopia’s Addis Abeba airport; nevertheless, they weren’t awakened until the autopilot alert went off.
After two pilots missed an airport runway while dozing off during a flight, their licences have been suspended. When the pilots awoke, they successfully executed a second approach and landing before being suspended, according to Ethiopian Airlines on Friday.
“Deeply alarming occurrence at Africa’s largest airline – Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 #ET343 was still at cruising altitude of 37,000ft by the time it arrived destination Addis Ababa,” aviation expert Alex Macheras tweeted on Thursday (18 August), describing the situation. Why hadn’t it begin to lower itself for landing? Both pilots were dozing off.
Following the Aviation Herald’s post, which broke the news of the incident, other similarly appalled comments swiftly piled up, with one individual writing: “The level of ineptitude has gone beyond limits.”
Tragic, said another. “Pilot fatigue can be a serious issue, especially on long night flights,” noted a third.
In a statement, Ethiopian Airlines stated: “According to a report, Ethiopian Flight ET343 temporarily lost contact with Addis Ababa Air Traffic Control on August 15, 2022, while travelling from Khartoum to Addis Abeba.
“Following the restoration of communication, the aircraft successfully landed. The concerned Crew has been taken out of service while an investigation is conducted.
“Depending on how the investigation turns out, the appropriate corrective action will be implemented. Our first goal has always been and will always be safety.”
In one case, the pilots successfully made a landing after waking up, but in May, a passenger who had “no concept” how to fly was compelled to make a landing after the pilot of the plane they were riding in became “incoherent.”
When the pilot of the Cessna Caravan model took ill, the passenger was forced to attempt to land the aircraft on their own.
The passenger safely landed at Palm Beach International Airport with considerable assistance from ground-based air traffic authorities.
The small plane was 70 miles off the Florida coast when the incident occurred, according to the New York Post, which reported on the amazing performance.
I’ve got a severe situation here, the passenger was heard saying to air traffic control, according to the report. My pilot has stopped making sense. I don’t know how to fly an aeroplane.
Roger, a dispatcher said. What position do you hold? I don’t know, the passenger said in response. Florida’s coast is visible in front of me. And I’m clueless.
The dispatcher then gave instructions, saying, “Keep wings level and just attempt to follow the shore, either northbound or southbound. We are looking for you.
Amazingly, the aircraft managed to land safely and was found around 25 miles north of Palm Beach.
