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FAA Investigates Whether go! Pilots Fell Asleep During Flight

Company Says It Is Conducting Internal Investigation

POSTED: 1:57 pm HST February 19, 2008
UPDATED: 2:15 pm HST February 19, 2008

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating whether two go! Airlines pilots fell asleep during an interisland flight.

The incident centers on a flight on Feb. 13 that did not land when it should have and was out of contact for an extended period of time.

Flight 1002 took off from Honolulu at 9:20 a.m. It was scheduled to land in Hilo at 10:05 a.m.

The plane reportedly flew beyond Hilo for several miles and was out of contact with air traffic controllers for more than 20 minutes, officials said.

"I can confirm that the FAA is investigating whether the pilot and co-pilot of a Feb. 13, go! Airlines flight fell asleep while the aircraft was in the air between Honolulu and Hilo," FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said.

The company issued a statement.

"We are aware of the incident and an internal investigation is under way," go! Airlines counsel Brian Gillman said in a written statement.

A pilot told KITV one possibility is the crew could have had a radio problem and were unable to receive their assignment by air traffic controllers so they stayed on course until communications were restored.

If the pilots were in error, evidence may be found in the cockpit voice recorder, which could indicate if the pilots were sleeping when they should have been talking, the pilot said.

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