"Another Pilot Caught Drinking: Chaos at Japan Airlines as 630 Passengers Affected"

Japan Airlines Pilot Drinks Alcohol in Hawaii Before Flight
Cites Illness, Causing 18-Hour Delays for Three Flights
Another Alcohol-Related Incident Follows Last December's Scandal

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A pilot from Japan Airlines (JAL) was found to have violated company regulations by consuming alcohol while staying in Hawaii. As a result, three flights, including the one he was originally scheduled to board, were delayed for up to 18 hours, causing significant disruption, according to a report by Japan's TBS on September 3.

According to TBS, on August 28 (local time), a pilot scheduled to operate a flight departing from Honolulu, Hawaii, and heading to Chubu Centrair International Airport in Aichi Prefecture, reported feeling unwell on the day of departure. Upon investigation, he admitted to drinking alcohol at his hotel the previous day. Consequently, the pilot was removed from duty, and three flights departing from Honolulu were delayed by up to 18 hours, affecting approximately 630 passengers.

Japan Airlines faced a similar incident in December of last year, when the captain and co-pilot of a flight scheduled to depart from Melbourne, Australia, to Narita Airport in Japan, drank a glass of sparkling wine each and three bottles of red wine at a restaurant in Melbourne the day before their flight. They failed to report this, and when alcohol was detected during a pre-flight test, they repeatedly requested retesting, claiming the possibility of an error. Ultimately, the flight departed 3 hours and 11 minutes late and arrived in Narita, and only three days later did both individuals admit to exceeding the alcohol limit set by company regulations. As a result, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism issued administrative guidance. Following the incident, the CEO and the chairperson of the board of Japan Airlines received a 30% pay cut for two months, and the chief safety officer was removed from the position. Although Japan Airlines subsequently strengthened its internal regulations by instituting a strict alcohol ban for employees staying overseas, this latest incident has once again exposed weaknesses in the management system.

Japan Airlines told TBS, "We take this incident very seriously, as it occurred despite our ongoing efforts to prevent recurrence after receiving administrative guidance on safety issues, including alcohol-related matters."