JAL Pilot’s Booze Bust: Nearly 10× the Legal Limit
The Unexpected Night Out
Before a scheduled flight from Heathrow, a Japan Airlines co‑pilot, 42‑year‑old Katsutoshi Jitsukawa, was nabbed by British police for drinking too much.
- He reportedly guzzled two bottles of wine and over 1.8 L of beer (about four US pints) in a single night.
- His blood tested at 189 mg per 100 mL—nearly ten times the pilot‑specific limit of 20 mg and well above England’s 80 mg drink‑drive cap.
What the Airline Says
JAL’s chief communications officer, Muneaki Kitahara, announced that the in‑house breath test the pilot had taken before rolling up to the plane was not reliable.
JAL has issued a heartfelt apology, blaming the pilot’s actions for the delay.
Delay Snapshot
- The flight was delayed 69 minutes.
- Passengers were made to wait while the pilots were cleared of any legal trouble.
Prior Incident Highlights a Pattern
Just a day before, All Nippon Airways had to call in sick on a weekend trip after a pilot took a “hung‑over” sprint after a night of drinking on the remote island of Ishigaki.
- The resulting service hiccups forced five flights to be delayed, inconveniencing 619 passengers.
Regulatory Quick‑Look
Transport ministers in Japan are acting swiftly:
- JAL had been enforcing a 12‑hour no‑drink rule, now pushing it out to 24 hours.
- Airlines will add airport staff to the gins‑check squad—no more “pilot‑check‑pilot”.
- Government officials promise to tighten rules, possibly borrowing best practices from overseas.
What’s Next?
The pilot pled guilty to the charge and is set to face sentencing on November 29. In the meantime, passengers can breathe a sigh of relief—after 69 minutes, the plane flew on for the trip.
We’ll keep you posted if more frothy airline regulations surface. Until then, maybe keep that extra drink at home.
