If you ever wondered why planes have an auto-pilot mode, when there are pilots, then let this news answer your questions. Two pilots flying an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Sudan’s Sudan’s Khartoum to Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa fell deep asleep mid-flight. They were dozing off to such an extent that they missed the landing, only for the auto-pilot mode to take over. So, here’s their story.
Pilots On Ethiopian Airlines Fall Asleep Mid-Air
According to a report by Aviation Herald, Ethiopian Airlines flight T343 approached for landing at Ethiopia’s Addis Ababa airport but didn’t start the descent. The Air Traffic Control (ATC) raised an alarm following this unusual move. Little did they know that the two pilots on the flight were deep asleep, 37,000 feet in the air. Interestingly, the Boeing 737’s autopilot system took over.
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Alarm Wakes Them Up & They Land Flight Safely
The plane went on auto-pilot mode and kept the flight cruising 37,000 feet in the air. The ATC tried contacting the pilots many times but didn’t succeed. The auto-pilot got disconnected when instead of landing at the airport, the plane flew over the runway. That’s when the alarm was triggered which instantly woke up the pilots. They safely landed the flight. Fortunately, all passengers were safe and no one was harmed. But this incident is certainly concerning, with aviation experts blaming pilot fatigue.