# Survey finds cockpit microsleeps among three quarters of European pilots

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/three-quarters-of-european-airline-pilots-admit-they-have-fallen-asleep-in-the-cockpit/
- Published: 2026-10-26T10:52:34+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-26T11:07:39+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16238813/European-airline-pilots-fallen-asleep-cockpit.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Art, Culture, Europe, World

## Key points

- Three quarters reported cockpit microsleeps.
- Half said fatigue had led them to fly when they should not.
- Nearly half feared penalties for reporting exhaustion.

## Summary

A survey of nearly 7,200 European airline pilots found widespread fatigue: three quarters said they had experienced microsleeps in the cockpit during the previous four weeks. The European Cockpit Association says pilots’ reluctance to report exhaustion, amid concerns about punishment and pressure to extend shifts, raises potential safety risks.

More than 30 per cent said they did not get enough sleep to avoid fatigue, and half reported flying while they should not have because of fatigue in the preceding three months. Nearly half feared penalties for reporting themselves unfit, while only 11.9 per cent trusted their airline’s fatigue reporting system. Pilots are legally required to report fatigue and must not fly when unfit.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.