Two Pilots Fall Asleep While Flying at 37,000 Feet, Wake Up 25 Mins Later to Land Plane

A commercial flight's pilots are claimed to have slept off while flying the aircraft 37,000 feet in the air.

When you can wake up at your destination, or at the very least when it's time for the in-flight meal, rather than having to move around in your tight seat for hours, sleeping on an airline is always a blessing.

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It's an ideal situation for anyone boarding a plane, but I must emphasize that it only applies to passengers. Those who are actually in charge of the airplane should remain alert at all times.

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I've heard a lot about how amazing autopilot is at relieving some of the stress from pilots while they're in the cockpit, and while I'm sure technology has advanced greatly, I believe most people would prefer to have at least one other set of eyes on the situation. wide eyes, not closed ones.

However, earlier this week, two pilots flying an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737-800 from Khartoum, Sudan, to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, allegedly used the flight to take a nap and missed the chance to start the planned touchdown.

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The reported event allegedly occurred on August 15; according to the Aviation Herald, the plane proceeded to descend thousands of feet after it was meant to stop.

Air Traffic Control reportedly made multiple attempts to get in touch with the crew, but the pilots allegedly ignored their calls because they were hanging out with the Sandman.

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The aircraft's autopilot automatically detached when the fly overshot the runway in Ethiopia and set out an alarm, which thankfully was loud enough to wake the pilots.

Unfortunately, the crew was able to navigate the jet to the ground for a safe landing approximately 25 minutes later. It's unknown whether any of the passengers on the flight were aware that their aircraft had mistakenly overshot its destination.

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Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast data, which revealed the aircraft flew over the runway before starting its descent and getting ready for another approach to the runway, seemed to confirm the facts.

The aircraft stayed on the ground for almost two and a half hours following the landing before taking off for its subsequent flight. Let's hope that after a short nap, the pilots felt properly rested.

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