Japan Airlines Apologizes After New Case of Pilot Under Influence of Alcohol
Japan Airlines (JAL) found itself in the spotlight once again after one of its pilots was removed from duty when it was discovered he had consumed alcohol prior to an international flight in late August. The incident forced the company to issue a public apology and reignited criticism regarding the airline’s safety management, Bloomberg reported.
Surprise Inspection by the Ministry of Transport
On Wednesday, officials from Japan’s Ministry of Transport conducted an unannounced inspection at JAL’s headquarters, according to FNN, the same network that broke the story citing an unidentified source.
“We sincerely apologize to our customers and all involved parties for the inconvenience caused,” the company stated in an emailed release.
Affected Flights and Immediate Repercussions
The captain was relieved of his duties after it was confirmed he had consumed alcohol before a flight from Honolulu to Nagoya. As a result of the incident, three flights from Honolulu were delayed by approximately 18 hours on August 28, according to TV Tokyo.
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JAL acknowledged the seriousness of the incident, especially as the company was already under administrative supervision due to several safety-related episodes, including previous situations involving alcohol consumption by crew members.
History of Similar Incidents
This is not an isolated event. In December 2024, the Ministry of Transport issued a business improvement order to JAL following various in-flight incidents, including another case of excessive alcohol consumption by a pilot.
The airline has repeatedly promised stricter controls. However, its track record continues to raise questions about the effectiveness of its internal measures.
Sanctions for Senior Management
As part of corrective actions, JAL President Yuji Akasaka lost his direct responsibility for safety measures in February. Furthermore, both he and CEO Mitsuko Tottori had their salaries reduced by 30% for two months, while other senior executives were demoted.
Akasaka had already faced consequences in 2018, when his salary was cut by 20% for three months following another similar case.
In its most recent statement, the company reiterated: “We are committed to working as a company to ensure the rigorous implementation of measures that prevent the recurrence of such incidents.”
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