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Nov. 27 (UPI) -- A pilot fell asleep while alone in the cockpit of a small freight plane, overshooting its destination by 28.6 miles in Australia, according to the nation's aviation agency. On Tuesday, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau reported the "serious incident" happened on Nov. 8.
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The ATSB said it will interview the pilot and review operational procedures with a report expected by the first quarter of next year.
The unidentified person was flying a Piper PA-31, VH-TWU from Devonport Airport to King Island Airport in the state of Tasmania.
"During the cruise, the pilot, who was the only person on board, fell asleep, resulting in the aircraft overflying King Island by 46 km," ATSB said in a statement.
According to flight tracking data, the twin-engined aircraft, operated by Vortex Air, left Devonport Airport at 6:21 a.m. and passed over King Island before turning around. At 7:21 a.m., it landed on King Island.
Vortex Air runs charter flights for "groups, corporates and leisure travelers to destinations around Australia," according to its website.
The Piper PA-31 can carry up to 10 passengers, according to Airlines.net, an aviation interest site
The company's pilot "unintentionally fell asleep while in command of the aircraft," Colin Tucker, the managing director of Vortex Air, said to Australia's Yahoo!7.
"The issue became apparent when Air Traffic Control was unable to contact the pilot in-flight, and the aircraft traveled past the intended destination point while operating on autopilot," Tucker said. "The pilot safely landed the aircraft at King Island airport."
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