TOKYO- Japan Airlines (JAL) has announced the dismissal of a pilot who violated the company’s alcohol policies, leading to significant flight disruptions.
The incident occurred on August 28, 2025, at Honolulu International Airport (HNL), Hawaii, where the captain admitted to consuming alcohol prior to his scheduled international flight.
This breach resulted in delays affecting multiple flights and approximately 630 passengers. In response to this violation, Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism issued a formal reprimand to JAL.
Photo: Clément AlloingIncident Details at Honolulu International Airport (HNL)
On the morning of August 28, 2025, a Japan Airlines Boeing 787 captain was scheduled to operate flight JL793 from HNL to Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO) in Japan.
However, the captain called in sick on the day of the flight and later admitted to consuming alcohol the previous evening. As a result, the airline experienced significant operational disruptions, including delays of up to 18 hours for three flights, affecting approximately 630 passengers.
This marks the airline’s second warning within a year regarding alcohol-related incidents involving its flight crew. The ministry’s intervention underscores the gravity of the situation and the need for stringent adherence to aviation safety regulations.
Photo: Charles | FlickrGovernment’s Stern Reprimand and Airlines’ Response
In light of the incident, Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism summoned JAL’s chief safety officer on September 10, 2025, to issue a second written reprimand within a year. The ministry’s action highlights the seriousness with which it views such violations and its commitment to ensuring aviation safety.
In a public apology, JAL President Mitsuko Tottori expressed deep regret over the incident and pledged to implement stricter enforcement of alcohol and health checks for flight crew members.
Photo: By Kentaro Iemoto from Tokyo, Japan – JAL B777-300ER(JA731J), CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23458469JAL’s Alcohol-Related Incidents
This recent violation adds to a series of alcohol-related incidents involving Japan Airlines. In December 2024, two pilots were found to have attempted to conceal excessive drinking before a flight from Melbourne to Narita, resulting in a three-hour delay.
Following that incident, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism issued a warning to JAL and implemented measures such as a ban on alcohol consumption during overnight layovers. Despite these efforts, the recurrence of such violations indicates ongoing challenges in enforcing compliance with safety protocols.
Measures to Prevent Future Incidents
According to the South China Morning Post, the pilot had breached internal rules set by JAL in December, following the crew’s attempt to conceal their intoxication before taking charge of a flight from Melbourne to Narita. The transport ministry subsequently issued JAL a business improvement advisory.
These measures aim to restore public confidence in the airline’s commitment to passenger safety and prevent similar incidents in the future.
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Two Drunk Japan Airlines Pilots Delays Flight from Australia
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