[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] In Africa, a plane overshot its landing point due to a pilot's drowsy operation. Some have pointed out the issue of pilot fatigue accumulation, a chronic problem in the aviation industry.
On the 20th (local time), CNN cited the aviation-specialized website Aviation Herald and reported that on the 15th, an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737-800 failed to land.
According to the report, the plane, which took off from Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, was scheduled to land at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport in Ethiopia.
However, at the time it was supposed to land on the airport runway, the plane was flying at about 11.3 km altitude. Addis Ababa airport control tower attempted to contact the plane several times but received no response. The plane, which continued flying past the landing point, only landed safely about 25 minutes after alarms started sounding.
This incident occurred because the two pilots dozed off during the flight. Ethiopian Airlines issued a statement saying, "The involved pilots have been removed from duty pending further investigation."
In this regard, an aviation analyst pointed out, "Pilot fatigue accumulation is one of the most serious risks to aviation safety worldwide." This incident is seen as a result of the unresolved chronic problem of pilot fatigue accumulation in the aviation industry.
In fact, pilots who have not had sufficient rest time under conditions of increased fatigue due to night flights and jet lag often fall asleep while operating the aircraft.
Especially recently, concerns have grown as the skies, which were closed due to COVID-19, have reopened. Although traveler demand has recovered, the aviation industry is experiencing a shortage of personnel, which is increasing pilot fatigue.
In response, in April, the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA) sent a letter to airline executives urging solutions to the issue, stating, "Extreme fatigue is the number one cause threatening safety accidents." This reflects the recognition that pilots' lack of sleep is a critical issue directly related to passenger safety.
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