Plane flies 30 miles off course after pilot ‘falls asleep’
Australian aviation bureau launches investigation into flight that overshot its runway by nearly 30 miles

Australian aviation officials are investigating an incident in which a pilot missed his destination by almost 30 miles after reportedly falling asleep at the controls of the plane.
The twin-engine Piper PA-31 Navajo, operated by charter service Vortex Air, took off from Devonport, Tasmania, on the morning of 8 November for an hour-long flight to neighbouring King Island.
However, air traffic data shows that the aircraft flew past the runway at King Island Airport without making a descent.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The plane then continued on for another 46km (28.5 miles) before reversing course and heading back to the airport, where it landed safely. It is not known how many, if any, passengers were on board the flight.
“The trip was the first of seven flown that day by the Piper PA-31 Navajo, which can carry up to nine passengers,” says The Australian.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau says it is treating it as a “serious operational incident” caused by “pilot incapacitation”.
Its investigation “will involve reviewing operational Vortex Air procedures and interviewing the pilot”, says the Daily Mail, and is expected to conclude early next year.
The director of Vortex Air has so far declined media requests for comment.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
One-pan black chickpeas with baharat and orange recipe
The Week Recommends This one-pan dish offers bold flavours, low effort and minimum clean up
By The Week UK
-
Merz's coalition deal: a 'betrayal' of Germany?
Talking Point With liberalism, freedom and democracy under threat globally, it's a time for 'giants' – but this is a 'coalition of the timid'
By The Week UK
-
Sudoku medium: April 19, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across Syria
THE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weapons
The Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
By Abby Wilson
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarray
In the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
By Justin Klawans, The Week US
-
Ukrainian election: who could replace Zelenskyy?
The Explainer Donald Trump's 'dictator' jibe raises pressure on Ukraine to the polls while the country is under martial law
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK
-
Why Serbian protesters set off smoke bombs in parliament
THE EXPLAINER Ongoing anti-corruption protests erupted into full view this week as Serbian protesters threw the country's legislature into chaos
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Who is the Hat Man? 'Shadow people' and sleep paralysis
In Depth 'Sleep demons' have plagued our dreams throughout the centuries, but the explanation could be medical
By The Week Staff
-
The Aussie beach cabana drama
Row over using tents to reserve a spot on the sand has even drawn in the prime minister
By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK
-
Was the Azerbaijan Airlines plane shot down?
Today's Big Question Multiple sources claim Russian anti-aircraft missile damaged passenger jet, leading to Christmas Day crash that killed at least 38
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK