Two pilots fall asleep on a UK flight
The issue of pilots’ working hours has been raised again after reports emerged of two pilots falling asleep on a British-based airline flying into the UK.
The incident, revealed by the Civil Aviation Authority, happened on August 13 on a long-haul flight less than two hours after take-off.
According to the CAA report, the pilot and co-pilot on the Airbus A330 had agreed to take turns having short naps, but then one woke up to find the other had been asleep at the same time, leaving the flight on auto-pilot.
The CAA is not obliged to reveal the name of the airline but is obliged to provide details of such incidents when it receives requests.
On this occasion, a news agency requested information on incidents of pilots falling asleep during flights during the last two years.
By law, pilots have to report to the CAA any incidents that might endanger a flight.
The CAA agrees not to provide too many details in a bid to encourage pilots and crew to speak out.
It uses the information to improve flight safety and to identify any worrying trends.
A CAA spokesman said: "To put this in context, UK airlines make around 1 million flights each year and this was the only reported incident of its kind within two years."
He said the pilots are not expected to face disciplinary action over the incident.
The problem of pilot tiredness was revealed in a recent study by pilots’ union Balpa which showed that 45% of the pilots surveyed had suffered from ‘significant fatigue’.
The study revealed that about 20% of pilots believe their performance is ‘compromised’ more than once a week.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026