• Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 787-8
    Ethiopian Airlines
    IATA/ICAO Code:
    ET/ETH
    Airline Type:
    Full Service Carrier
    Hub(s):
    Addis Ababa Bole International Airport
    Year Founded:
    1945
    Alliance:
    Star Alliance
    CEO:
    Mesfin Tasew Bekele
    Country:
    Ethiopia

Ethiopian Airlines has suspended the two pilots who fell asleep in the cockpit and missed their landing. The carrier has moved swiftly to remove the pilots from active duty pending an investigation. We take a closer look at this story below.

Ethiopian suspends sleeping pilots

The two Ethiopian Airlines pilots who were asleep at the controls of a Boeing 737-800 when they were supposed to be landing have been suspended by the airline. The incident, which many speculate was caused by fatigue, occurred on August 15th at the end of a 90-minute flight between Khartoum International Airport (KRT) and Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD).

Ethiopian 737
Ethiopian Airlines has invested in several carriers across Africa in recent years. Photo: Konstantin von Wedelstaedt via Wikimedia Commons

Ethiopian Airlines stated,

"The concerned crew have been removed from operation pending further investigation. Appropriate corrective action will be taken based on the outcome of the investigation. Safety has always been and will continue to be our first priority."

As Simple Flying reported on Friday, two Ethiopian Airlines pilots missed their landing because they were asleep, forcing the aircraft to go around and land without incident 25 minutes later. Air traffic control repeatedly (and unsuccessfully) tried to contact the pilots after the flight reached its top of descent near Addis Ababa while still cruising at FL370.

Investigation pending

Ethiopian Airlines did not explicitly confirm whether the pilots were asleep or not, instead stating that the aircraft "temporarily lost communication" with air traffic control. This is perhaps understandable, as the incident only occurred less than a week ago and the airline is still conducting a thorough investigation.

It isn't clear just how long the pilots were asleep at this point; perhaps the pilots themselves don't even know. Data from FlightRadar24.com shows that the aircraft reached its cruising altitude of FL370 almost an hour before its scheduled landing in Addis Ababa.

Pilot napping, often called 'controlled rest,' is more common (and safer) than you might think and a key tool in fatigue management. However, both pilots falling asleep is a different issue entirely. As the International Air Transport Association (IATA) explains in its Fatigue Management Guide for Airline Operators,

"For two-pilot crews on long-range flights, planned 40-minute nap opportunities on the flight deck seat have been shown to provide an average of 23 minutes of sleep and to improve alertness and performance at top of descent. A short nap can improve alertness and performance and is a valuable mitigation strategy in fatigue management."

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Was pilot fatigue to blame?

The likeliest factor behind this incident is pilot fatigue, which has caused similar incidents in the past. Simple Flying reported on the ITA Airways pilots who fell asleep over France and sparked a terrorism scare, which was also likely down to fatigue.

Airlines are required to implement Fatigue rest management systems (FRMS) to ensure pilots are getting enough rest and aren't being overworked. However, given the ongoing staff shortages in the aviation industry, many airlines are desperate for pilots and will be maxing out their existing pilots' hours.

Wizz Air CEO Josef Varadi recently called out pilots reporting fatigue, urging them to "go the extra mile," leading to backlash from many in the industry.

What are your thoughts on this incident involving two Ethiopian Airlines pilots falling asleep? How could airlines prevent this type of thing from happening again? Let us know in the comments.