Pilot's sudden death during overnight layover puts spotlight on fatigue concerns

The hotel manager entered the locked room with a master key and found Asaldekar unconscious and unresponsive, according to the outlet.

Police responded to the hotel, and Asaldekar was taken to a hospital, where he was declared dead.

"Air India is deeply saddened at the passing away of a cockpit crew member in Delhi last night," the airline said in a statement to The New Indian Express.

A post-mortem examination was conducted, but the cause of death has not yet been determined.

Matthew "Whiz" Buckley, a former U.S. Navy F/A-18 Hornet fighter pilot who also flew for American Airlines and FedEx, told Fox News Digital that fatigue has long been a concern in commercial aviation.

While passengers may assume an overnight layover gives pilots plenty of time to recover, Buckley said required rest does not always mean pilots get enough sleep.

"A layover is just that. It's a crew laying over in a city that is not their home base," he said.

"It's just unnatural to sleep during off hours," he said.

Buckley said he faced that challenge while flying overnight routes himself - and that pilot fatigue was among the reasons he made changes in his career.

Long-haul flights can be especially difficult when pilots cross multiple time zones, he added.

"Where it really takes a toll on the body for pilots is east-west," Buckley said. "When you're crossing multiple time zones, [that's] when your body can really get messed up."

Buckley said U.S. safeguards include federal crew-rest requirements, airline policies and labor agreements, but pilots also play a key role in deciding whether they are fit to fly.

"At the end of the day ... you know who determines if a pilot is fit to fly? You," Buckley said.

Fox News Digital reached out to Air India for comment.