Two pilots fell asleep the job during one the most crucial parts of their flight. The pair were charge of a Boeing 737 that was travelling Khartoum, Sudan to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. The airliner was its cruising altitude of 37,000 feet (11,278 metres) and was due to begin its descent to Addis Ababa Bole Airport. Air traffic controllers the airport were shocked when their flight radar showed the plane had overshot its destination. The pilots woke after the autopilot disconnected and the alarm sounded. They quickly did a loop the skies above the airport and successfully landed the plane. None the concerned crew or passengers board were hurt.
An airline spokesperson made a statement the incident. She said: "We have received a report which indicates the Ethiopian flight...temporarily lost communication air traffic control....The flight later landed safely after communication was restored." The airline said the pilots "have been removed operation pending further investigation". It added: "Appropriate corrective action will be taken based the outcome the investigation. Safety has always been and will continue to be our first priority." An aviation analyst said the incident might have been the result pilot fatigue. He said this was "nothing new, and continues to pose one the most significant threats to air safety".
