Pilots Fired After Caught Sleeping Mid-Flight

There is some various opinions on what happened and only 2 people will ever know but it cost them their job.

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[dayfamily]

I’m a locomotive engineer, drive trains, and we have an “alerter” to make sure we are awake. If I don’t touch the throttle, air brakes, or other buttons a red light starts blinking. It’s increases the intensity until an audible alarm starts going off. That also continues to get louder and if I still don’t react it will apply the train brakes causing me to stop. Of course it sends out a message letting the dispatcher know so they will try contacting you on the radio to inquire why the penalty brake system was activated.

[matthewbooth]

A flight I was on was intercepted by fighters once. However, it was a military charter, the jets were training, and the captain told us a couple of minutes before it happened. As a 15 year old boy it was the most awesome thing ever.

[watchhans]

I was a first class flight attendant with Lufthansa, working right behind the flight deck on the 747-400. And we were also responsible to serve our pilots with food and drinks.
Usually, during long night flights, when almost all passengers were asleep, our pilots asked me to call them every 20 - 30 minutes, or they called me.
And definitely not only asking for something to eat or to drink 🥱
Sometimes I went to the cockpit for a little chat during long nightflights. That helped all of us to keep us awake 🙂

[larrydugan]

A test was done in Canada with freight crew that flew night freight.
The Captain's brain was wired up with electric sensors that measured brain waves .
Without rest on approach after a 4 hour night flight they recorded 20 micro sleeps during the approach phase alone.This is where you are actually asleep for brief periods of time but believe yourself to be awake.
They then did a flight with controlled rest and the results were much better and safer.
This is why Canada has a controlled rest program on the flight deck.
It works.

[kenbrown]

Kelsey: "you want to spend your entire career without anyone knowing who you are.
also Kelsey: has 1.13 million people who know who he is.

[GlasVelo]

'I'm a glass of milk and a cookie away from sleeping' Made me lol. Keep up the great work Kelsey!

[WWPlaysHoldem]

I am a retired ATC. IN THE 1970’s I was riding in the jump-seat from ATL TO DAL in the late afternoon sun beating in the cockpit and extra warm. I fell asleep and when I woke up, both pilots were sleeping as well. A few coughs and both were awake!

[garyowen]

Had a an airline pilot friend tell me this once:
“If anyone wants to know what it’s like being an airline pilot… sit on a lawn chair, in dark closet, with dim lighting, and have someone hand you a lukewarm TV dinner.”

[robertheinkel]

While I was a crew chief in the Air Force, we were returning from an overseas trip, where the entire crew was exhausted. During the long return trip, the pilots took turns sleeping in the bunks while the crew chiefs sat up front and help monitor the flight. By the time we landed, everyone was refreshed and wide awake.

[edjarrett]

As a military pilot, we would do strategic naps. Some of our flights were long but not long enough to have augmented crews. The naps were hugely useful to staying sharp. Overflying your destination is usually not a good thing esp considering your reserves. Not surprising both pilots were fired.

[aliced]

I appreciate how you talked about this aspect of human frailty with empathy and compassion. As sorry as I am for the 2 pilots, I wouldn't want to be a passenger on that flight.

[Noah]

I'm a train driver and another train driver in the comments already perfectly explained, how train drivers are prevented from falling asleep. It actually helped me once, cause we have changing shifts where I work. I had a week where I had early shift, day shift, late shift, night shift and early shift again all within the same week.

It's hard sometimes.
However especially then I take extra much care, time and effort to do my tasks.

For a train driver, there is just two rules. Don't take shortcuts and be honest

Don't take shortcuts basically means you have to always obey the rulebook. Always. Even if something means it's a little more complicated to do. But you would wonder how many people just make their own rules just because of their laziness.


But if you followed all the rules that were given to you you just have to be honest. Look, everyone makes mistakes, it's human. But what really makes the train driver or pilot job so special is that you have the whole responsibility. You sign up for it the second you sign your work contract. And that means admitting when you messed up and carrying all the consequences.

There have been a lot of train driver mistakes where the drivers have just made an honest mistake, been honest about it. They did some retraining and got sent back to work which I think is fair.

There have also been incidents from people who tried to cover up their mistakes and they just made their situation worse. Those people usually get fired.


I personally think that the pilots got fired because they lied about everything. They were too proud to admit that they made a mistake although they knew damn well it was too late.

Had it been 20 or maybe 30 minutes, maybe they could've played it off but what I'm trying to say is

If you know You messed up big time: ADMIT IT. You are already in this situation and lying will just make your whole situation worse, especially if people find out that you lied.

[grahamstrang]

As a Canadian pilot, we do have controlled rest on the flight deck. There are fairly stringent rules as to how and when we use it. All I can say is if you are feeling sleepy, a 15-20min cat nap, makes a huge difference to alertness when your on approach. I find it rather crazy the FAA has not implemented a program, much like the EASA, Transport Canada and others.

[RobsNeighbor]

Best way to start the Sunday is with Kelsey and Aviation stories.

[tonyhaines]

My first flight instructor was an Eastern Airline pilot. He told me one time they were flying a MD80 or DC9, I don't remember, they flipped a coin to see you got the first nap. He won and when he woke up his FO was asleep. Sounds like a story that has been around the world a few times.

[SlowFashion]

i have finally determined that pilot humor is exactly my style of comedy. i crack up watching these. had no idea about the cat noises.

[sbraddozier]

Kelsey, I'm sure you dont read all of these comments, but I had to send you a shout out. I'm a private pilot/attorney who flies all over my state working with estate and probate clients. I know your 747s are much more impressive than my 206, but I wanted you to know your videos are both informative and entertaining for those of us on the private side of flying. I hope you keep up the great work with your videos and thank you for all the time you spend creating this content.

[chawkinz]

Back in the day (pre 911) as a BA3200 Captain, I'd close the curtain/door (yes, there were curtains) advise the FO to take the radios while flying, I'd monitor everything, put oxygen mask on 100% and take a few hits. Wakes you right up. We'd typically monitor short count (123.45) as an unofficial company frequency. The transmissions were hilarious but very informative. Those were the days.

[july]

That is the scariest vid of yours I have seen.

I like all the background detail you give, such as how manufacturers add systems like the 'pilots haven't touched anything for a while sensors is everything ok?'. That's comforting.

[thdayblue]

As always……. Honest, Humble, Understanding.

Yet so dignified in your analysis of what happened on that flight

10/10 mate