Japan Airlines (JAL) is once again in the spotlight after one of its pilots was found to be intoxicated, causing delays to three flights, including one that was postponed for 18 hours.
The incident drew an official reprimand from Japan’s Ministry of Transport and marks the second such occurrence within less than a year. JAL management issued a public apology following the episode.
JAL President Mitsuko Tottori admitted that the pilot had consumed excessive alcohol while in Hawaii, rendering him unable to operate the flight to Nagoya the following day.
“We will strengthen monitoring of alcohol consumption and staff health. This situation is very serious, especially as it occurred despite strict regulations implemented since last December,” she said at a press conference.
JAL’s Chief of Safety, Yukio Nakagawa, was also summoned to the ministry and received a formal written warning.
This is not the first time JAL has faced alcohol-related issues. Last December, the airline prohibited crew from drinking alcohol during layovers after two pilots were found intoxicated before a flight from Melbourne to Narita, causing a three-hour delay.
