Two pilots are believed to have fallen asleep and missed their landing during an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Sudan to Ethiopia on 15 August.
En route from Khartoum to Addis Ababa, the flight continued along its route set up for an approach to the runway without descending.
Air Traffic Control (ATC) tried contacting the pilots several times without success. After flying over the runway, the autopilot disconnected and the disconnect wailer is presumed to have woken up the crew, according to The Aviation Herald.
Flight surveillance revealed the aircraft overshooting the runway before beginning its descent and mongering for another approach. The crew allegedly woke up and manoeuvred the aircraft for a safe landing on the aircraft 25 minutes later.
‘We have received a report which indicates Ethiopian flight number ET343 en route from Khartoum to Addis Ababa temporarily lost communication with Addis Ababa Air Traffic Control on 15 August 2022,’ Ethiopian Airlines later said in a statement. ‘The flight later landed safely after communication was restored.’
The two pilots have been suspended. ‘The concerned crew have been removed from operation pending further investigation. 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,’ the statement concluded.
Picture: Gift Habeshaw/ Getaway Gallery
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