Two pilots are believed to have fallen asleep on the job during a flight from Sudan to Ethiopia on Monday.
The plane, an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737-800, took off from Khartoum airport and was flying at 37,000 feet "when the pilots fell asleep", according to aviation news site Aviation Herald.
The Boeing 737 was cruising on autopilot as the pilots slept and failed to land at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport in Ethiopia as scheduled.
Air traffic control attempted to contact the Ethiopian Airlines crew numerous times but there was no response. The average flight time between Khartoum airport and Addis Ababa airport is about two hours.
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Eventually, the pilots were woken up when an alarm was triggered as the plane flew over the airport runway and autopilot automatically switched off.
The pilots then turned the plane around and landed at Addis Ababa airport on a second approach 25 minutes later.
The report by the Aviation Herald reads: "[Air traffic control] tried to contact the crew numerous times without success. After overflying runway 25L at FL370 the autopilot disconnected, the disconnect wailer woke the crew up who then maneouvered the aircraft for a safe landing on runway 25L about 25 minutes after overflying the runway at FL370."
The incident sparked shock online as Alex Macheras, an aviation analyst, called it "deeply concerning" and blamed it on "pilot fatigue".
He wrote on Twitter: "Pilot fatigue is nothing new, and continues to pose one of the most significant threats to air safety - internationally."
A spokesperson for Ethiopian Airlines on Friday said the two pilots involved in the incident have been suspended as an investigation is carried out.
A statement from the airline read: "We have received a report which indicates Ethiopian flight number ET343 en route from Khartoum to Addis Ababa temporarily lost communication with Addis Ababa Air Traffic Control on 15 August 2022.
"The flight later landed safely after communication was restored. The concerned crew have been removed from operation pending further investigation.
"Appropriate corrective action will be taken based on the outcome of the investigation. Safety has always been and will continue to be our first priority."
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