Originally Posted by BBC News

Airline safety is being compromised by pilot fatigue, BBC News has found.

Some 32 UK-based pilots said they had flown while unfit. Some blamed the situation on the intensity of work and managers ignoring their concerns.

A separate survey by pilots' union Balpa suggests 81% believe fatigue had affected performance; while 63% are flying more hours than five years ago.

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The pilots spoke anonymously for fear of losing their jobs.

One said: "I have fallen asleep unintentionally in the air where you close your eyes for a second and realise that 10 minutes have passed."

Following the BBC's inquiries, the UK's largest pilots' union, the British Air Line Pilots' Association, questioned 534 of its members.

In the UK we have some of the most regulated pilot flying hours and duty hours in the world

Roger Wiltshire, BATA

Some 76% said their response times had been affected by fatigue, 72% said there had been an impact on decision-making skills and 41% they would refuse to fly if fatigued.

But 12% said they would not feel able to refuse duties even if exhausted, while a further 33% said they would refuse - but feared disciplinary action.

Overall, some 79% told Balpa the public should be concerned about fatigue.

Originally Posted by BBC News

The BBC has also learned of an incident on a flight to Europe.

The captain told his co-pilot he was exhausted, who suggested he "take five minutes kip - I'll take it from here".

As the captain rested his eyes the aircraft - on autopilot - began to turn, putting it on a collision course with another passenger plane.

Air Traffic Control radioed an urgent warning.

Realising there was no response the captain looked across to see his co-pilot asleep.

Corrective action was taken to avert danger. But in the incident report the pilot failed to mention that his colleague was asleep.