FAA punishes 2 go! airline pilots accused of falling asleep

— -- The Federal Aviation Administration suspended the licenses of two go! airline pilots who allegedly fell asleep during a flight from Honolulu to Hilo earlier this year.

Captain Scott Oltman completed a 60-day suspension on Sept. 9 after the FAA cited him for careless and reckless operation of an aircraft and for failing to maintain radio communications, according to records provided by the FAA.

First Officer Dillon Shepley served a 45-day suspension for careless and reckless operation of a plane, the FAA said. Shepley's suspension also was completed on Sept. 9.

The pilots were fired by go! in April.

The FAA did not take action against go! because the carrier had acted with guidelines and had provided the two pilots with ample rest time between flights.

A go! spokesman confirmed the airline was not penalized for the pilots' actions but declined further comment.

On Feb. 13, Oltman and Shepley piloted go! Flight 1002, which took off from Honolulu International Airport for Hilo Airport. The 10 a.m. flight overshot Hilo airport by 15 miles before heading back to land safely.

A radar track of the flight provided the website www.flightaware.com shows that the flight remained at 21,000 feet as it flew past Hilo before returning to the airport.

Air traffic controllers, who had been tracking the plane by radar, were unable to reach the plane for about 20 minutes.

In June, National Transportation Safety Board said that "the pilots unintentionally fell asleep" and that Oltman was later diagnosed with "severe obstructive sleep apnea.

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