Sleeping pilot overflies destination by 46km

Airline officials say a pilot is under investigation after falling asleep in the cockpit of a freight plane and overflying his Australian island destination by 46 kilometers.

Airline Vortex Air says the pilot was the only person aboard the twin-propeller Piper PA-31 Navajo Chieftain and was flying on autopilot during the flight this month from Devonport city on Tasmania northwest to King Island in Bass Strait.

The Melbourne-based airline said in a statement Tuesday that the pilot “unintentionally fell asleep while in command of the aircraft.” Read more