A pilot falls asleep for 40 minutes and skips the airport landing
The plane landed safely at Gold Coast Airport, more than 80 miles from Redcliffe
An investigation concluded that a tired pilot fell asleep in the cockpit for 40 minutes and passed the airport where he had to land.
And reported to the "Independent" newspaper that the pilot was flying a "Cessna 208B" on his way from Cairns to "Redcliffe" airport in the Australian state on a "repositioning" flight, which means that there are no passengers on board.
According to a report from the Australian Transportation Safety Bureau, the accident began when air traffic control tried to contact the pilot about his imminent landing at Redcliffe airport, but they received no response during the next forty minutes as he was asleep.
Then the office staff tried to contact the pilot using a nearby plane, including a pilot who ran the Royal Flying Doctor service.
The pilot approached a Cessna plane in an attempt to trigger the traffic and collision alert system.
It didn't work, and the pilot fell asleep.
When the plane flew 111 kilometers southeast of Redcliffe Airport, in the Pacific Ocean, the pilot woke up and reported the air traffic control center.
Then the plane landed safely at Gold Coast airport, more than 80 miles from Redcliffe.
According to the Australian Transportation Safety Bureau report, the pilot flew over a distance of bad weather upon departure, rising from 10,000 feet to 11,000 feet.
"The office found that the pilot was likely suffering from exhaustion due to lack of sleep the night before, which led to the accident," said Keri Hughes, Acting Transportation Safety Director.
Furthermore, operating at 11,000 feet with intermittent use of additional oxygen could potentially result in the pilot being mildly hypoxic.
This worsened the pilot's fatigue and kept him asleep at all times.
Hypoxia is a condition in which the body or an area of the body is deprived of an adequate supply of oxygen, which can lead to fatigue and confusion.
Most people generally underestimate their level of stress and tend to overestimate their abilities, Hughes said.
"This incident underscores the importance of pilots monitoring their health and well-being, to ensure they get good rest and adequate nutrition," she explained.