JAL Flight Delayed Again Due to Crew Drinking; Government Issues Severe Warning

Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) issued a severe warning to Japan Airlines today after two of its flight attendants violated internal aviation transport regulations by consuming alcohol last month, causing a flight delay.

According to NHK, on May 23, two flight attendants, including a supervisor, scheduled to work on a Japan Airlines (JAL) flight from Hiroshima to Haneda, violated JAL's internal rules based on the Civil Aeronautics Act by drinking within 12 hours before their duty. This caused the flight to be delayed by over 40 minutes.

The MLIT's disposition stated that the supervisor, wanting to wait for time to pass to lower their alcohol concentration level, intentionally postponed the pre-departure check that should have been conducted before leaving their accommodation until arriving at the airport. Furthermore, both flight attendants made false statements during the company's inquiry. "Based on these facts, it is recognized that there was an intent to conceal the fact of drinking in violation of regulations the day before duty."

The document also noted that although other crew members repeatedly reminded the supervisor to conduct the internal pre-departure check, the organization failed to grasp the situation and could not promptly determine the crew member's fitness for duty. "This indicates that its safety management system was not functioning adequately."

The MLIT further pointed out in the disposition that "JAL's safety awareness has still not been thoroughly instilled in every employee." In addition to issuing the severe warning today, it has instructed JAL to submit concrete recurrence prevention measures by July 17.

JAL has dismissed the supervisor and suspended the other flight attendant, and has also decided to implement a pay cut for all 37 of its board members.

The report added that last year, JAL also had an incident where an international flight captain violated internal regulations by drinking, causing a departure delay, and similarly received a severe warning from the MLIT.

JAL released a statement saying, "We take this situation very seriously and offer our deepest apologies that such an incident occurred despite our continuous efforts to implement preventive measures following repeated drinking incidents."