Despite very stiff federal rules against it, many experienced airline pilots say that it is not uncommon at all for pilots to sneak in a little cat nap inside the cockpit from time to time. Charles Lindberg was one of the first pilots to famously fall asleep while crossing the Atlantic.

However, the Northwest Airlines pilot, who actually went 150 miles past the flight’s stop in Minneapolis just this past week, insists that they were not snoozing. Richard Cole, the first officer on the flight, said that no one was asleep in the cockpit.

Despite what Richard Cole said, Aviation safety experts and other pilots say they are not buying it. They went on to say that this is the most likely explanation for missing more than an hour of radio, data messages, and cell phone alerts. This story alone could now renew the focus on pilot fatigue and research that suggests that catnaps could make flying a lot safer.

Kit Darby, a pilot who claimed to take the occasional mid-flight nap during his 30 year career for several major airlines, said that pilots are far better off taking a nap during a flight than trying to ignore their body’s signals and being tired for takeoffs and landings. He went on to say that it really is not all that uncommon. Darby also said that, as a captain, he would encourage it.

Some international carriers like Air France, Qantas, and British Airways allow their pilots to take naps. However, sleeping while flying is prohibited in all United States airlines due to laws set by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Just last month, the Air Transport Association again pressed for the Federal Aviation Administration to allow cockpit naps. They went on to cite NASA’s research that says that taking mid-flight naps can reduce the risks of pilot fatigue.