Originally Posted by
Nialler
Is it possible to avoid Ramadan as a factor in this tragedy until the facts are known?
I'm sorry, but no it isn't. I have worked with several otherwise very competent Middle Eastern colleagues who (in an office environment) were becoming almost completely useless by the end of Ramadan. It is not so much the fasting during the day, but the fact that most of the night is spent eating rather than sleeping, with the cumulative sleep deprivation. Flying is a job that requires maximum alertness at all times, and such practices are not too conductive to having a well rested crew.