Japan Airlines Apologizes After Drunk Pilot Delays Three Flights

On September 10, Japan Airlines (JAL) held a press conference to express its sorrow over a recent incident involving a drunk pilot that resulted in the delay of three flights. The incident occurred on August 28 when a pilot who had consumed too much alcohol in Hawaii was unable to operate a flight destined for Nagoya, Japan, leading to significant disruptions, including delays of up to 18 hours for some flights.

In response to this situation, JAL's president, Mitsuko Tottori, stated that the airline would bolster its monitoring of alcohol consumption and health checks for its staff. This apology follows a previous warning issued by the transport ministry after two pilots were involved in a similar alcohol-related incident while preparing for a flight from Melbourne to Narita, which caused a three-hour delay as the pilots attempted to mislead authorities about their drinking.

On the same day, JAL’s chief safety officer, Yukio Nakagawa, was summoned by the transport ministry and received another written warning. Transport Minister Hiromasa Nakano expressed his disappointment over the repeated incidents, emphasizing the necessity for a thorough educational approach to safety within the airline. The Minister's comments highlight the gravity of the situation, especially in light of a 2018 incident where a JAL pilot was arrested in the UK for being nearly ten times over the legal alcohol limit prior to a flight.