Did Pilots Fall Asleep During Flight?

[efq]

Air traffic controllers are investigating whether two pilots nodded off while flying 40 passengers between two islands in Hawaii.

Honolulu airport

The flight deck of the trip from Honolulu to Hilo operated by the Go! airline failed to respond to air traffic controllers 11 times as it overshot its destination by 15 miles.
According to tape recordings of the flight, a controller was unable to contact the pilots when she tried to call them about 15 minutes after the plane left Honolulu.
Finally, about 32 minutes into the flight, the captain responded.
The controller is heard saying: "Air shuttle 1002, guys, I've been trying to contact you for the last 90 to 100 miles.
She added: "I understand you've passed Hilo, I'm going to turn you back to the northeast bound to get you back to the Hilo airport.

"Is there some kind of emergency situation going on?"
"Uh, no emergency situation," the unnamed captain said.
After listening to the tapes, an airline analyst Peter Foreman told the local TV station KGMB that it was clear something was wrong.
"By the time you get 60 miles from your destination, it's time to descend," he said.
"So obviously someone was not minding the store."
The National Transportation Safety Board has said the flight had no mechanical problems.
Its preliminary report reached no conclusion as to why the plane overshot Hilo International Airport.
Go!'s parent company, Phoenix-based Mesa Air Group, grounded both pilots while the investigations continued.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/...309476,00.html

[Slowpoke]

they fell asleep pretty quick if they did...

[Corporal]

This is old.
Happend weeks ago

[MR22]

there just human the cant help it if the need to sleep.
Let themm sleep and let some terrorist fly the plain.
I hope theres no wtc in that area

[Nereo]

I find it funny how they BOTH fell asleep

[Adam!]

I doubt they both fell asleep.. However, it is common for one pilot to sleep whilst the other stays awake! - On long haul flights anyway, it's law that both rest before landing if there is only a single crew.

[Browney]

For them both to fall asleep at the same time would be massive odds. Could there have been something wrong in the cockpit leading them to faint? I dunno.

[Adam!]

It's strange, because if there was a radio faliure why didn't the captain squawk 7600.. So they where obviousally impaired in some way.