JAL apologizes for alcohol-related pilot incident

Japan Airlines has received attention after one of its pilots consumed alcohol in Hawaii, leading the airline to issue a public apology on Sept. 10, according to CNA. The pilot’s late-night drinking on Aug. 28 meant he was unable to fly the next day, causing delays for three flights. This is the second time in a year that Japan’s transport ministry has acted regarding the airline’s alcohol-related incidents, prompting concern for one of the country’s largest carriers.

Mitsuko Tottori, JAL’s president, held a news conference to apologize for the incident, pledging that the airline would implement stricter checks on alcohol consumption among its personnel.

«We take this situation extremely seriously, as this happened despite measures put in place last December,» the outlet cited her as saying.

CAN noted that JAL had already restricted alcohol consumption for crew members during overnight work stays in December, following a previous incident in which two pilots drank excessively before a Melbourne–Narita flight, resulting in a three-hour delay.