93% of Pilots in Germany Admit to Dozing Off During Flights

Germany’s pilots’ union has revealed a concerning trend: 93% of pilots admitted to dozing off during flights, citing staff shortages and operational pressures. The issue has been described as an “alarming reality” within the country’s aviation sector, which is increasingly raising the alarm over pilot fatigue.

The Vereinigung Cockpit union conducted a recent survey with over 900 pilots. According to the results, 93% confessed to having dozed off in the cockpit in recent months.

While noting that the survey is “not representative,” the union shared the following breakdown:

• 12% admitted to nodding off on every flight

• 44% said they regularly fell asleep

• 33% admitted to doing so occasionally

• 3% reported falling asleep only once

• 7% said they could no longer count how often it happened

The union emphasized that falling asleep during flights has become “a concerning reality” for its members.

Katharina Dieseldorff, Vice President of Vereinigung Cockpit, which represents 10,000 pilots, cockpit crew, and trainees, said: “Falling asleep has long become the norm in German cockpits. What was initially seen as a short-term coping measure has turned into a permanent response to structural pressure. A short nap itself is not critical—but a consistently fatigued cockpit crew is a serious risk.”

The union also pointed out that staff shortages and increased operational pressure, particularly during the summer months, have further worsened the situation for pilots.