Cathay Pacific is looking to punish staff after a crew member was photographed sleeping in the cockpit at 11,000 metres, however, the carrier is targeting the photographer and not the sleepy driver.

While some would think the photo snapped resting on board a flight travelling between Dubai and Hong Kong in August this year would be in the wrong, the carrier said the pilot was authorised to take “controlled naps” but the photographer was not permitted to take and release photos from the cockpit, Monsters and Critics reported.

“There are guidelines and policies at Cathay Pacific relating to the unauthorized taking and release of photographs from the cockpit,” a spokesperson said. 

“These are known to all employees.

“We are following procedures relating to those guidelines.”

The spokesperson added that “controlled rest” is common for pilots and is used by some of the world’s best airlines.

“This includes Cathay Pacific, which allows controlled rest under strictly controlled conditions, which permit one pilot of a two-crew aircraft, to take a short rest during low workload periods during the cruise only,” the spokesperson explained.