Japan Airlines (JAL) will terminate the employment of a pilot who failed a pre-flight alcohol screening,causing delays to three flights,following a strong reprimand from the Japanese transport ministry. the incident, revealed Wednesday, adds to a pattern of similar occurrences at the airline and prompted the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism to demand JAL submit preventative measures by the end of the month.
This is not the first time JAL has faced scrutiny over pilot alcohol consumption. The ministry issued a prior warning to the airline in December regarding previous incidents, citing a lack of sufficient safety consideration among employees. The latest case involved a pilot who consumed three pints (568 millilitres each) of beer the day before a scheduled flight from Honolulu to Chubu airport near Nagoya on August 28.”We take this issue very seriously and deeply apologise for causing trouble and worries,” JAL president Mitsuko Tottori stated at a press conference. She confirmed the pilot’s dismissal and announced stricter pilot monitoring protocols, including the use of health data and other criteria to assess fitness to fly.
Four pilots have been suspended from flying as a result of the ongoing examination. The transport ministry has urged JAL to comprehensively address the systemic issues contributing to these incidents to prevent future disruptions and ensure passenger safety.