Two Sleeping Pilots, One Plane?

Feb. 20, 2008— -- The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating whether the pilot and copilot of a Feb. 13 Go! Airlines flight fell asleep while in the air between Honolulu and Hilo, an FAA spokesman said today.

Flight 1002 left Honolulu around 9 p.m. local time on what was scheduled as a 30-minute flight, said Ian Gregor, spokesman for the FAA's Western-Pacific Region. The aircraft overshot Hilo by 15 miles while at cruising altitude, and air traffic controllers were unable to reach the flight crew for approximately 20 to 25 minutes, he said.

The plane eventually turned around and landed at Hilo without incident.

The FAA investigation is underway and will involve interviews with the pilots, air traffic controllers and witnesses, Gregor said. Investigators will also review radar tracks and audio tapes to determine if, in fact, the pilots fell asleep, he said.

Paul Skellon, a spokesman for Mesa Air Group, the owner of Go! Airlines, said that the company was cooperating fully with the FAA.

"Until such time as the investigation is completed, we really have no further comment," he said.

The FAA is not aware of anything weather-related that would have caused the plane to overshoot its destination, Gregor said.

Aviation sources say this is extremely rare — especially on what was supposed to be a short flight.

With reports by Alice Gomstyn.