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Jet Airways pilot falls asleep, co-pilot on iPad

There were 280 passengers on board the flight.

By Aileen Graef

MUMBAI, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- Two Jet Airways pilots were suspended after the plane they were flying Friday plunged 5,000 feet while the pilot was asleep and the co-pilot was on her iPad.

The captain was on a scheduled break when the aircraft, traveling from Mumbai to Brussels, took a sharp dip. Turkish air traffic controllers alerted the co-pilot that they were flying at an altitude assigned to another plane. The co-captain, who was checking flight information on her iPad, then woke the pilot who took control.

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The two pilots were suspended and summoned for questioning by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India's air regulation service. Jet Airways said it is launching a full inquiry into the matter.

"The airline is also extending all co-operation in the matter to the DGCA by providing all necessary assistance for the inquiry," a Jet Airways spokesman told NDTV.

There were 280 passengers on board.

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