MD11 crew diverted when international relief crew was unable to obtain proper rest.

Attributes
ACN	433391
Time
Date	199904
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : 75yek
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl single value : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : czvr.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-11
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute airway : nca24.airway
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	other personnel
Qualification	other
ASRS Report	433391
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : diverted to another airport
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Company Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I was dispatcher at air carrier ab atl-nrt. 13 hours 17 mins time en route via northern canada, alaska, russian, far east. 2 full crew (2 captain, 2 first officer). At XX16Z (about 4 1/2 hours into flight) I was advised by ACARS (data link) that relief crew got no rest on break, that crew was unfit, and requested flight plan calho (next fix) to pdx. I responded via ACARS, requesting details and for voice contact either via satcom or HF. Crew called at XX43Z advising that they were proceeding to pdx for crew change and that it was unsafe to continue and they had already obtained clearance to do so. I advised captain that based on his declaration of unsafe to continue and his decision to divert without consultation with dispatcher, considering that I had no opportunity to evaluate proposed route, destination, and alternate, including appropriate NOTAMS, that I considered that he was proceeding under his emergency authority/authorized. During the period between XX16Z and XX43Z, I also considered the possibility of a security threat due to lack of further information. I felt that the crew may be acting under duress. I made the appropriate coded inquiry and received an appropriate response indicating no threat existed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD11 CREW DIVERTED WHEN INTL RELIEF CREW WAS UNABLE TO OBTAIN PROPER REST.

Narrative: I WAS DISPATCHER AT ACR AB ATL-NRT. 13 HRS 17 MINS TIME ENRTE VIA NORTHERN CANADA, ALASKA, RUSSIAN, FAR EAST. 2 FULL CREW (2 CAPT, 2 FO). AT XX16Z (ABOUT 4 1/2 HRS INTO FLT) I WAS ADVISED BY ACARS (DATA LINK) THAT RELIEF CREW GOT NO REST ON BREAK, THAT CREW WAS UNFIT, AND REQUESTED FLT PLAN CALHO (NEXT FIX) TO PDX. I RESPONDED VIA ACARS, REQUESTING DETAILS AND FOR VOICE CONTACT EITHER VIA SATCOM OR HF. CREW CALLED AT XX43Z ADVISING THAT THEY WERE PROCEEDING TO PDX FOR CREW CHANGE AND THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO CONTINUE AND THEY HAD ALREADY OBTAINED CLRNC TO DO SO. I ADVISED CAPT THAT BASED ON HIS DECLARATION OF UNSAFE TO CONTINUE AND HIS DECISION TO DIVERT WITHOUT CONSULTATION WITH DISPATCHER, CONSIDERING THAT I HAD NO OPPORTUNITY TO EVALUATE PROPOSED RTE, DEST, AND ALTERNATE, INCLUDING APPROPRIATE NOTAMS, THAT I CONSIDERED THAT HE WAS PROCEEDING UNDER HIS EMER AUTH. DURING THE PERIOD BTWN XX16Z AND XX43Z, I ALSO CONSIDERED THE POSSIBILITY OF A SECURITY THREAT DUE TO LACK OF FURTHER INFO. I FELT THAT THE CREW MAY BE ACTING UNDER DURESS. I MADE THE APPROPRIATE CODED INQUIRY AND RECEIVED AN APPROPRIATE RESPONSE INDICATING NO THREAT EXISTED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.