The Reading / Listening - Being Asleep - Level 6

Two pilots fell asleep on the job during one of the most crucial parts of their flight. The pair were in charge of a Boeing 737 that was travelling from Khartoum, Sudan to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. The airliner was at 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 at the airport were shocked when their flight radar showed the plane had overshot its destination. The pilots woke up after the autopilot disconnected and the alarm sounded. They quickly did a loop of the skies above the airport and successfully landed the plane. None of the concerned crew or passengers on board were hurt.

An airline spokesperson made a statement about the incident. She said: "We have received a report which indicates the Ethiopian flight…temporarily lost communication with air traffic control.…The flight later landed safely after communication was restored." The airline said the pilots "have been removed from operation pending further investigation". It added: "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." An aviation analyst said the incident might have been the result of pilot fatigue. He said this was "nothing new, and continues to pose one of the most significant threats to air safety".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Being Asleep - Level 4  or  Being Asleep - Level 5

Sources
  • https://metro.co.uk/2022/08/19/ethiopian-airlines-pilots-fall-asleep-mid-flight-and-pass-airport-17209873/
  • https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/pilots-reported-to-fall-asleep-ethiopian-airlines/index.html
  • https://nypost.com/2022/08/19/pilots-on-ethiopian-airlines-flight-fall-asleep-miss-landing/


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. BEING ASLEEP: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about being asleep. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       pilots / asleep / crucial / flight / altitude / air traffic control / radar / alarm / crew /
       airline / communication / investigation / safety / priority / aviation / fatigue / threat
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. SLEEPY TEST: Students A strongly believe pilots should be tested for sleepiness before they fly; Students B strongly believe this isn't necessary. Change partners again and talk about your conversations
4. FALLING ASLEEP: How bad is it for these people to fall asleep? What would you do? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How Bad

What You Would Do

Pilot

 

 

English teacher

 

 

Security guard

 

 

Bank clerk

 

 

Air traffic controller

 

 

Surgeon

 

 
MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. FLIGHT: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "flight". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. SLEEP: Rank these with your partner. Put the things that send you to sleep the quickest at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • University lectures
  • Reading English books
  • Exercise
  • Sitting on a train
  • Overeating
  • Boredom
  • Screen time
  • Relaxing music

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. crucial a. A shape produced by a curve that bends round and crosses itself.
      2. altitude b. The height of an object or point in relation to sea level or ground level.
      3. descent c. The place to which someone or something is going or being sent.
      4. destination d. Being really, really important in the success or failure of something.
      5. autopilot e. A group of people who work on and operate a ship, aircraft, etc.
      6. loop f. An act of moving downwards.
      7. crew g. A device for keeping an aircraft on a set course without the use of people.

    Paragraph 2

      8. incident h. Awaiting decision or settlement.
      9. indicate i. For a limited period of time; not permanently.
      10. temporarily j. The fact or condition of being regarded or treated as more important than others.
      11. pending k. A case of something happening; an event or occurrence.
      12. appropriate l. Point out; show.
      13. priority m. Extreme tiredness resulting from mental or physical exertion or illness.
      14. fatigue n. Suitable or proper in the circumstances.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. Two pilots fell asleep seconds before their plane landed.     T / F
  2. The pilots were flying a Boeing 737 from Sudan to Ethiopia.     T / F
  3. Air traffic controllers guided the plane to land safely.     T / F
  4. Several crew members were hurt during the eventual landing.     T / F
  5. The airline said the plane lost communication with air traffic controllers.   T / F
  6. The two pilots are now under investigation.     T / F
  7. The airline said pilot training was its first priority.     T / F
  8. An expert said pilot fatigue was a big threat to air safety.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. fell asleep
  2. crucial
  3. altitude
  4. destination
  5. hurt
  6. indicates
  7. restored
  8. pending
  9. priority
  10. pose
  1. reinstated
  2. height
  3. injured
  4. shows
  5. important
  6. prime concern
  7. awaiting
  8. nodded off
  9. constitute
  10. landing place

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. during one of the most crucial
  2. The airliner was at its cruising
  3. the autopilot disconnected and the alarm
  4. They quickly did a loop of the
  5. None of the concerned crew or passengers
  6. pending further
  7. action will be taken based on the outcome
  8. continue to be our first
  9. might have been the result
  10. pose one of the most
  1. of pilot fatigue
  2. on board were hurt
  3. priority
  4. altitude of 37,000 feet
  5. of the investigation
  6. skies above the airport
  7. significant threats
  8. investigation
  9. parts of their flight
  10. sounded

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
radar
charge
descent
job
skies
board
cruising
sounded

Two pilots fell asleep on the (1) _____________________ during one of the most crucial parts of their flight. The pair were in (2) _____________________ of a Boeing 737 that was travelling from Khartoum, Sudan to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. The airliner was at its (3) _____________________ altitude of 37,000 feet (11,278 metres) and was due to begin its (4) _____________________ to Addis Ababa Bole Airport. Air traffic controllers at the airport were shocked when their flight (5) _____________________ showed the plane had overshot its destination. The pilots woke up after the autopilot disconnected and the alarm (6) _____________________. They quickly did a loop of the (7) _____________________ above the airport and successfully landed the plane. None of the concerned crew or passengers on (8) _____________________ were hurt.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
landed
outcome
statement
fatigue
pending
pose
flight
priority

An airline spokesperson made a (9) _____________________ about the incident. She said: "We have received a report which indicates the Ethiopian (10) ____________________...temporarily lost communication with air traffic control....The flight later (11) _____________________ safely after communication was restored." The airline said the pilots "have been removed from operation (12) _____________________ further investigation". It added: "Appropriate corrective action will be taken based on the (13) _____________________ of the investigation. Safety has always been and will continue to be our first (14) _____________________." An aviation analyst said the incident might have been the result of pilot (15) _____________________. He said this was "nothing new, and continues to (16) _____________________ one of the most significant threats to air safety".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Two pilots fell asleep on the job during one of the ______
     a.  most cruciate parts
     b.  most crew shall parts
     c.  most crucial parts
     d.  most crews all parts
2)  Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. The airliner was at ______
     a.  its cruiser altitude
     b.  its cruising altitude
     c.  its cruise in altitude
     d.  its crew zing altitude
3)  shocked when their flight radar showed the plane had ______
     a.  overshot that's destination
     b.  overshot this destination
     c.  overshot its destination
     d.  overshot it destination
4)  The pilots woke up after the autopilot disconnected and ______
     a.  the alarm sounded
     b.  the alarm rounded
     c.  the alarm grounded
     d.  the alarm scoundrel
5)  None of the concerned crew or passengers on ______
     a.  bard were hurt
     b.  braid were hurt
     c.  beard were hurt
     d.  board were hurt

6)  An airline spokesperson made a statement ______
     a.  about the incident
     b.  about the incidence
     c.  about the accident
     d.  about the coincidence
7)  The flight later landed safely after ______
     a.  communications was restored
     b.  communication was stored
     c.  communication was restored
     d.  communication was rest aired
8)  Safety has always been and will continue to be ______
     a.  our fast priority
     b.  our thirst priority
     c.  our thrust priority
     d.  our first priority
9)  An aviation analyst said the incident might have been the result ______
     a.  off-pilot fatigue
     b.  of pilot fatigue
     c.  of pilot fatigues
     d.  off pilot fatigued
10)  and continues to pose one of the most significant threats ______
     a.  too air safety
     b.  two air safety
     c.  thru air safety
     d.  to air safety

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Two pilots fell asleep on (1) ____________________ one of the most crucial parts of their flight. The pair were (2) ____________________ a Boeing 737 that was travelling from Khartoum, Sudan to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. The airliner was at (3) ____________________ of 37,000 feet (11,278 metres) and was due to begin its descent to Addis Ababa Bole Airport. Air traffic controllers at the airport were shocked when their flight radar showed the plane (4) ____________________ destination. The pilots woke up after the autopilot disconnected and the alarm sounded. They quickly (5) ____________________ of the skies above the airport and successfully landed the plane. None of the concerned crew or passengers on (6) ____________________.

An airline spokesperson made a statement about the incident. She said: "We have received a (7) ____________________ the Ethiopian flight...temporarily lost communication with air traffic control....The flight later landed safely after communication was restored." The airline said the pilots "have been removed from (8) ____________________ investigation". It added: "Appropriate corrective action will be taken based (9) ____________________ of the investigation. Safety has always been and will continue to be our first priority." (10) ____________________ said the incident might have been the result (11) ____________________. He said this was "nothing new, and continues to pose one of the most significant (12) ____________________ safety".

Comprehension questions

  1. What plane were the pilots flying?
  2. What was the cruising altitude of the flight?
  3. What showed the plane had overshot its destination?
  4. What eventually woke the pilots up?
  5. Who was not hurt during the landing?
  6. What did the airline say was temporarily lost?
  7. What have the pilots been removed from?
  8. What might happen to the pilots based on an investigation?
  9. What did the airline say was its first priority?
  10. What did an analyst say posed a threat to air safety?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What plane were the pilots flying?
a) a Boeing 747
b) a Boeing 777
c) a Boeing 737
d) a Boeing 787
2) What was the cruising altitude of the flight?
a) 37,000 feet
b) 38,000 feet
c) 31,000 feet
d) 36,000 feet
3) What showed the plane had overshot its destination?
a) the Internet
b) flight radar
c) chemtrails
d) a flight tracking group
4) What eventually woke the pilots up?
a) turbulence
b) a passenger
c) a knock on the door
d) the alarm

5) Who was not hurt during the landing?
a) the pilot
b) the ground staff
c) the crew or passengers
d) air traffic controllers

6) What did the airline say was temporarily lost?
a) the airplane
b) communication
c) the joystick
d) cabin pressure
7) What have the pilots been removed from?
a) the company
b) the airplane
c) a flying association
d) operations
8) What might happen to the pilots based on an investigation?
a) imprisonment
b) corrective action
c) a fine
d) loss of their flying license
9) What did the airline say was its first priority?
a) pilot training
b) safety
c) passengers
d) profits
10) What did an analyst say posed a threat to air safety?
a) pilot fatigue
b) space debris
c) global warming
d) the fuel crisis

Role play

Role  A – Overeating
You think overeating is the thing that can make us sleep quickest. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as sleep-inducing. Also, tell the others which is the least likely of these to make us sleep (and why): boredom, English grammar or exercise.

Role  B – Boredom
You think boredom is the thing that can make us sleep quickest. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as sleep-inducing. Also, tell the others which is the least likely of these to make us sleep (and why): overeating, English grammar or exercise.

Role  C – English Grammar
You think English grammar is the thing that can make us sleep quickest. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as sleep-inducing. Also, tell the others which is the least likely of these to make us sleep (and why): boredom, overeating or exercise.

Role  D – Exercise
You think exercise is the thing that can make us sleep quickest. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as sleep-inducing. Also, tell the others which is the least likely of these to make us sleep (and why): boredom, English grammar or overeating.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'pilots'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'sleep'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • parts
    • cruising
    • due
    • shocked
    • woke
    • crew
    • statement
    • lost
    • later
    • based
    • result
    • safety

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Being Asleep

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'pilot'?
    3. What do you think of pilots?
    4. How difficult is the job of a pilot?
    5. What do you think of flying?
    6. How would you feel if your pilots fell asleep?
    7. How safe is flying?
    8. Have you ever fallen asleep on the job?
    9. What do you think of autopilot systems?
    10. What advice do you have for the pilots?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'asleep'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What should happen to the two pilots?
    5. How can airlines make sure pilots do not fall asleep?
    6. How important is sleep?
    7. What do you do to keep awake when you are really tired?
    8. How often are you fatigued?
    9. What other threats are there to air safety?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the pilots?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    Two pilots fell asleep (1) ____ the job during one of the most crucial parts of their flight. The pair were (2) ____ charge of a Boeing 737 that was travelling from Khartoum, Sudan to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. The airliner was at its (3) ____ altitude of 37,000 feet (11,278 metres) and was due to begin its (4) ____ to Addis Ababa Bole Airport. Air traffic controllers at the airport were shocked when their flight radar showed the plane had (5) ____ its destination. The pilots woke up after the autopilot disconnected and the alarm sounded. They quickly did a (6) ____ of the skies above the airport and successfully landed the plane. None of the concerned crew or passengers on board were hurt.

    An airline spokesperson made a statement about the incident. She said: "We have received a report which (7) ____ the Ethiopian flight...temporarily lost communication with air traffic control....The flight later landed safely after communication was (8) ____." The airline said the pilots "have been removed from operation (9) ____ further investigation". It added: "Appropriate corrective action will be taken based on the (10) ____ of the investigation. Safety has always been and will continue to be our first priority." An (11) ____ analyst said the incident might have been the result of pilot fatigue. He said this was "nothing new, and continues to (12) ____ one of the most significant threats to air safety".

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     in     (b)     on     (c)     up     (d)     as    
    2. (a)     on     (b)     in     (c)     during     (d)     while    
    3. (a)     rising     (b)     crushing     (c)     bruising     (d)     cruising    
    4. (a)     ascent     (b)     descent     (c)     recent     (d)     dissent    
    5. (a)     overtaken     (b)     overshot     (c)     overdone     (d)     overheard    
    6. (a)     scoop     (b)     hoop     (c)     loop     (d)     poop    
    7. (a)     infiltrates     (b)     inculcates     (c)     indicates     (d)     instigates    
    8. (a)     stocked     (b)     stacked     (c)     restored     (d)     rested    
    9. (a)     rending     (b)     sending     (c)     ending     (d)     pending    
    10. (a)     outcome     (b)     income     (c)     welcome     (d)     overcome    
    11. (a)     aviation     (b)     ovation     (c)     ovulation     (d)     evacuation    
    12. (a)     dose     (b)     hose     (c)     pose     (d)     lose

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. one of the most rualicc parts
    2. at its cruising etailudt of 37,000 feet
    3. due to begin its secdtne
    4. the plane had overshot its toeaitsndin
    5. the iatptloou disconnected
    6. crew or spgeraesns on board

    Paragraph 2

    1. the Ethiopian flight ltriaormepy lost communication
    2. pending further nvotaigintsei
    3. continue to be our first iiyortpr
    4. An oiaaitnv analyst
    5. the result of pilot atuegfi
    6. one of the most aigtcniisnf threats

    Put the text back together

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

    Put the words in the right order

    1. airline   pilots   job   .   Two   the   on   fell   asleep
    2. controllers   at   were   the   shocked   .   Air   airport   traffic
    3. destination   .   showed   overshot   had   the   plane   its   Radar
    4. disconnected   .   pilots   autopilot   the   woke   after   The   up
    5. loop   quickly   did   skies   .   They   a   the   of
    6. traffic   lost   control   .   with   It   communication   air   temporarily
    7. safely   was   The   landed   communication   restored   .   after   flight
    8. further  operation  removed  were  investigation  .  Pilots  from  pending
    9. result   The   of   fatigue   .   incident   the   might   be
    10. significant   threats   .   It   the   most   one   of   poses

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Two pilots fell asleep on / in the job during one of the most crucial parts of their flight. The pair were on / in charge of a Boeing 737 that was travelling from Khartoum, Sudan to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. The airliner was at its cruising / cruised altitude of 37,000 feet (11,278 metres) and was due at / to begin its ascent / descent to Addis Ababa Bole Airport. Air traffic controllers at the airport were shocked when their flying / flight radar showed the plane had overshot / overtaken its destination. The pilots woke up after the autopilot disconnected and the alarm voiced / sounded. They quickly did a lap / loop of the skies above the airport and successfully landed the plane. None of the concerned / cornered crew or passengers on board were hurt.

    An airline spokesperson made a statement about the incidence / incident. She said: "We have received a report which indicates / inculcates the Ethiopian flight...temporarily lost community / communication with air traffic control....The flight later landed safely after communication was restored / reassured." The airline said the pilots "have been removed from operation spending / pending further investigation". It added: "Appropriate corrective action will be taken biased / based on the outcome of the investigation. Safety / Safely has always been and will continue to be our first prioritize / priority." An aviation analyst said the incident might have been the result of / at pilot fatigue. He said this was "nothing new, and continues to suppose / pose one of the most significant threats to air safety".

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    Tw_  p_l_ts  f_ll  _sl__p  _n  th_  j_b  d_r_ng  _n_  _f  th_  m_st  cr_c__l  p_rts  _f  th__r  fl_ght.  Th_  p__r  w_r_  _n  ch_rg_  _f  _  B___ng  737  th_t  w_s  tr_v_ll_ng  fr_m  Kh_rt__m,  S_d_n  t_  _dd_s  _b_b_  _n  _th__p__.  Th_  __rl_n_r  w_s  _t  _ts  cr__s_ng  _lt_t_d_  _f  37,000  f__t  (11,278  m_tr_s)  _nd  w_s  d__  t_  b_g_n  _ts  d_sc_nt  t_  _dd_s  _b_b_  B_l_  __rp_rt.  __r  tr_ff_c  c_ntr_ll_rs  _t  th_  __rp_rt  w_r_  sh_ck_d  wh_n  th__r  fl_ght  r_d_r  sh_w_d  th_  pl_n_  h_d  _v_rsh_t  _ts  d_st_n_t__n.  Th_  p_l_ts  w_k_  _p  _ft_r  th_  __t_p_l_t  d_sc_nn_ct_d  _nd  th_  _l_rm  s__nd_d.  Th_y  q__ckly  d_d  _  l__p  _f  th_  sk__s  _b_v_  th_  __rp_rt  _nd  s_cc_ssf_lly  l_nd_d  th_  pl_n_.  N_n_  _f  th_  c_nc_rn_d  cr_w  _r  p_ss_ng_rs  _n  b__rd  w_r_  h_rt.

    _n  __rl_n_  sp_k_sp_rs_n  m_d_  _  st_t_m_nt  _b__t  th_  _nc_d_nt.  Sh_  s__d:  "W_  h_v_  r_c__v_d  _  r_p_rt  wh_ch  _nd_c_t_s  th_  _th__p__n  fl_ght...t_mp_r_r_ly  l_st  c_mm_n_c_t__n  w_th  __r  tr_ff_c  c_ntr_l....Th_  fl_ght  l_t_r  l_nd_d  s_f_ly  _ft_r  c_mm_n_c_t__n  w_s  r_st_r_d."  Th_  __rl_n_  s__d  th_  p_l_ts  "h_v_  b__n  r_m_v_d  fr_m  _p_r_t__n  p_nd_ng  f_rth_r  _nv_st_g_t__n".  _t  _dd_d:  "_ppr_pr__t_  c_rr_ct_v_  _ct__n  w_ll  b_  t_k_n  b_s_d  _n  th_  __tc_m_  _f  th_  _nv_st_g_t__n.  S_f_ty  h_s  _lw_ys  b__n  _nd  w_ll  c_nt_n__  t_  b_  __r  f_rst  pr__r_ty."  _n  _v__t__n  _n_lyst  s__d  th_  _nc_d_nt  m_ght  h_v_  b__n  th_  r_s_lt  _f  p_l_t  f_t_g__.  H_  s__d  th_s  w_s  "n_th_ng  n_w,  _nd  c_nt_n__s  t_  p_s_  _n_  _f  th_  m_st  s_gn_f_c_nt  thr__ts  t_  __r  s_f_ty".

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    two pilots fell asleep on the job during one of the most crucial parts of their flight the pair were in charge of a boeing 737 that was travelling from khartoum sudan to addis ababa in ethiopia the airliner was at its cruising altitude of 37000 feet 11278 metres and was due to begin its descent to addis ababa bole airport air traffic controllers at the airport were shocked when their flight radar showed the plane had overshot its destination the pilots woke up after the autopilot disconnected and the alarm sounded they quickly did a loop of the skies above the airport and successfully landed the plane none of the concerned crew or passengers on board were hurt

    an airline spokesperson made a statement about the incident she said we have received a report which indicates the ethiopian flighttemporarily lost communication with air traffic controlthe flight later landed safely after communication was restored the airline said the pilots have been removed from operation pending further investigation it added 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 an aviation analyst said the incident might have been the result of pilot fatigue he said this was nothing new and continues to pose one of the most significant threats to air safety

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Twopilotsfellasleeponthejobduringoneofthemostcrucialpartsoftheir
    flight.ThepairwereinchargeofaBoeing737thatwastravellingfromKha
    rtoum,SudantoAddisAbabainEthiopia.Theairlinerwasatitscruisingalt
    itudeof37,000feet(11,278metres)andwasduetobeginitsdescenttoA
    ddisAbabaBoleAirport.Airtrafficcontrollersattheairportwereshocked
    whentheirflightradarshowedtheplanehadovershotitsdestination.Th
    epilotswokeupaftertheautopilotdisconnectedandthealarmsounded.
    Theyquicklydidaloopoftheskiesabovetheairportandsuccessfullyland
    edtheplane.Noneoftheconcernedcreworpassengersonboardwereh
    urt.Anairlinespokespersonmadeastatementabouttheincident.Shesa
    id:"WehavereceivedareportwhichindicatestheEthiopianflight...tem
    porarilylostcommunicationwithairtrafficcontrol....Theflightlaterland
    edsafelyaftercommunicationwasrestored."Theairlinesaidthepilots"
    havebeenremovedfromoperationpendingfurtherinvestigation".Itad
    ded:"Appropriatecorrectiveactionwillbetakenbasedontheoutcomeof
    theinvestigation.Safetyhasalwaysbeenandwillcontinuetobeourfirst
    priority."Anaviationanalystsaidtheincidentmighthavebeentheresult
    ofpilotfatigue.Hesaidthiswas"nothingnew,andcontinuestoposeoneo
    fthemostsignificantthreatstoairsafety".

    Free writing

    Write about asleep on the job for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Pilots should be tested for sleepiness before they fly.  Discuss.

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    _____________________________________________________________________________

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. BEING ASLEEP: Make a poster about being asleep. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. TESTING: Write a magazine article about airplane pilots, taxi drivers, ships' captains, etc. being tested for sleepiness before they start work. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on being asleep. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to stay awake while at work. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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