China Airlines’ most senior pilot caught sleeping mid-flight

China Airlines’ most senior pilot caught sleeping mid-flight

A striking clip of a senior China Airlines pilot caught dozing mid-flight has surfaced.

The 30-second video, which shows a pilot with nearly 20-years of experience sleeping during a flight, comes just days after an unprecedented seven-day strike by China Airlines employees and the Taoyuan Union of Pilots over long working hours and pilot fatigue.

Taiwan’s national airline, which has its headquarters in Taoyuan International Airport, has responded to the incident by saying the clip was filmed before the most recent strikes took place.

The pilot within the clip, identified as Weng Jiaqi, is reportedly the company’s most senior 747 pilot and instructor – responsible for training new pilots at China Airlines Flight Training Centre.

A statement by China Airlines said that the pilot had been adequately punished while suggesting that the co-pilot who filmed the video may also be punished for choosing to record the clip instead of waking up his senior officer.

The South China Morning Post reported more than 200 flights, including several dozen to Hong Kong, were cancelled after the Taoyuan Union of Pilots launched industrial action on 8 February.

“[Taoyuan Union of Pilots and China Airlines] finally reached an agreement to end the strike following four rounds of talks in the past week,” deputy labour minister Liu Shih-hao said.

China Airlines agreed to the union’s main demand to increase the number of pilots on various flights to combat fatigue and improve safety.

It has been estimated that up to seven per cent of civil aviation accidents can be linked to tired pilots.

China Airlines has been contacted for comment.

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