By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Two Ethiopian Airlines pilots who reportedly both fell asleep mid air and missed their landing window in Addis Ababa have been suspended, the Airlines announced on Friday even as it reveals that investigation has commenced to ascertain the root cause of the incident.
Though the plane eventually landed safely, experts said the incident raised questions about pilot fatigue on the airline, which is the largest air carrier in Africa.
The two pilots were flying a Boeing 737 from Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, to Addis Ababa, apparently on Monday. “After overflying [the runway] the autopilot disconnected, the disconnect wailer woke the crew up, who then maneuvered the aircraft for a safe landing,” The Aviation Herald, a news website for the aviation industry, reported Thursday.
Ethiopian Airlines on Friday said the crew had 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 however was silent on whether the pilots were sleeping.
Experts said the incident could have been a result of the airline overworking the pilots or other external factors.
According to experts, Ethiopian Airlines has a good safety record. Sean Mendis, a former regional airline manager in Africa, said, “I would not hesitate to fly on Ethiopian myself. I was on two Ethiopian Airlines flights this week already. I’ve got another one booked for the next few weeks. And, you know, Ethiopian does remain one of the safest airlines in Africa and, indeed, in the world.”
The outcome of the investigation is expected to be ready in coming days as the airline attempts to dispel passenger concerns over safety.
