AN ACR PILOT REPORTS THAT DURING A SCHEDULED 3+16 BREAK; EXTENDED TO 5 HRS; HE CALLED IN FATIGUED BECAUSE THE DAY WAS EXTENDED TO 20 HRS. HE WAS THREATENED INTO CONTINUING TO FLY.

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WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A 3:16 LAYOVER. THE DELAY FOR XXX STARTED MARCHING. THE SIT EXTENDED TO JUST UNDER 5 HRS. HOTEL ROOMS WERE NOT ALLOWED DUE TO IT BEING A MARCHING DELAY. UPON ARR AT THE ACFT; WE LEARNED THAT THE ACFT WAS SCHEDULED FOR A 5 HR MAINT CHK. I INFORMED THE CREW DESK THAT I HAD BEEN UP SINCE XA00 HOME TIME; AND AS THINGS STAND; WOULD BE ON FINAL APCH AT ZZZ AT XV00 MY TIME AND WOULD BE TOO TIRED TO FLY DUE TO BEING AWAKE 22 HRS STRAIGHT. THE CREW DESK WAS PROFESSIONAL; BUT INFORMED ME THAT DESPITE MY SLEEP HABITS; I WAS STILL LEGAL TO FLY AND WAS THEREFORE RESPONSIBLE (IE; WOULD BE DOCKED PAY FOR REFUSING). MAINT THEN MIRACULOUSLY COMPLETED THE 5 HR CHK IN JUST UNDER 40 MINS; BUT WE WERE REASSIGNED TO ANOTHER ACFT. I SHOULD HAVE CALLED IN TOO TIRED TO FLY; BUT NOT BEING SURE; AND NOT WANTING TO LOSE PAY OR STRAND ACR'S CUSTOMERS; I MISTAKENLY ELECTED TO FLY IT. AS IT TURNED OUT; I WAS VERY TIRED THROUGHOUT THE FLT. I TOOK OXYGEN TO RELIEVE SYMPTOMS. WE LANDED JUST BEFORE XT00 AM HOME TIME FOR A 20 HR DAY. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE; THE CREW MEALS WERE NOT REBOARDED ON THE NEW FLT. THEREFORE; OUR ACR HAD 2 PLTS ENDING A 20 HR DAY ON EMPTY STOMACHS (EXCEPT FOR THE CAFFEINE IN THE COFFEE).