Drunk Pilot Dismissed and 37 Executives Face Pay Cuts... Another Scandal for Japan Airlines in Less Than a Year

Mass Disciplinary Action at Japan Airlines Over Drinking Scandal
Captain Dismissed... Similar Incident Occurred Last December

The captain and executives of Japan Airlines (JAL), who were at the center of a drunk pilot scandal, have received mass disciplinary action.

According to NHK on September 19, Japan Airlines announced that on September 17, it decided to reduce the compensation of 37 directors and executive officers, including President Mitsuko Dottori, in connection with the incident where an international flight captain consumed alcohol at his place of stay and subsequently received a stern warning from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

President and 36 Executives Face Pay Cuts... Drunk Captain Dismissed

Among them, President Mitsuko Dottori will have her salary reduced by 30% for two months. The executive director and chief officer in charge of safety measures, as well as the head of flight operations responsible for operational safety, will each face a 20% pay cut for one month. In addition, all other directors and executive officers, including outside directors, will have their pay reduced by 10% for one month, bringing the total number of those disciplined to 37. The captain who drank alcohol at his place of stay was dismissed on disciplinary grounds as of September 11. The company announced that it will report these disciplinary actions, along with recurrence prevention measures, to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism by the end of this month.

Previously, Captain A, in his 60s, was scheduled to operate a flight from Honolulu, Hawaii to Chubu (Nagoya) on August 28 (local time). However, on the afternoon of August 27, the day before the flight, he drank three bottles (about 550 ml each) of beer with an alcohol content of 9.5% in his hotel room. The next morning, on August 28, he conducted a voluntary alcohol test in his hotel room, which detected 0.45 mg of alcohol per liter in his breath. It was reported that he informed the company of his drinking just before departure. As a result, a total of three flights, including the one he was originally scheduled to operate, were delayed for up to 18 hours, causing significant disruption and affecting approximately 630 passengers.

Captain Admits to Drinking About 10 Times... JAL Faces Another Incident After Last December

According to Japan Airlines' investigation, Captain A underwent about 60 tests in total, and it was confirmed that he manipulated the dates on some of the records. Even after the ban on drinking during overseas stays was implemented in December last year, there were signs of record manipulation. The captain reportedly admitted, "I drank alcohol about 10 times during my stays so far."

In December last year, Japan Airlines also faced administrative guidance from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism after it was revealed that the captain and co-pilot of a flight from Melbourne, Australia to Narita Airport in Japan had consumed alcohol. As a result of this incident, the CEO and chairman of the board of Japan Airlines received a 30% pay cut for two months, and the chief officer in charge of safety management was removed from his position.