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TOKYO- Japanese flag carrier, Japan Airlines (JL) or JAL confirmed two pilots tested above the alcohol limit before Flight JL774 from Melbourne (MEL) to Tokyo Narita (NRT) on December 1st, 2024, causing a significant departure delay.
The incident involved two experienced male captains: Captain A (59, 15,632 flight hours) and Captain B (56, 13,310 flight hours). Both conducted self-administered breath tests at their hotel around 5 AM local time, revealing alcohol levels exceeding company standards.
Photo: Aero Icarus | FlickrDrunk Japan Airlines Pilots
Captain A initially requested a shift delay due to illness, while Captain B proceeded to the airport. Additional airport testing confirmed Captain B’s elevated alcohol levels, requiring multiple tests until a safe reading was obtained at 8:15 AM. Captain A, after re-testing at the hotel and clearing the limit, arrived at the airport around 6 AM.
Flight JL744 ultimately departed Melbourne at 10:31 AM, 3 hours and 11 minutes behind the original schedule. The flight arrived in Tokyo/Narita at 5:57 PM, landing 2 hours and 42 minutes late.
The Boeing 787-8 aircraft (registration: JA840J) carried 103 passengers and was staffed by 11 crew members, including two captains, one co-pilot, and eight cabin attendants.
Representative Image | Photo: Japan AirlinesPilots Suspended
An internal investigation on December 3rd confirmed that Captains A and B violated company alcohol regulations. The pilots consumed two glasses of sparkling wine and two bottles of wine between 2 PM and 4 PM on November 30th, the day before their scheduled flight.
Japan Airlines (JAL) maintains strict alcohol guidelines requiring pilots to have a residual alcohol concentration equivalent to four drinks or less 12 hours before their shift. Any breath test showing alcohol concentration above 0.00 milligrams per liter results in immediate work suspension.
JAL reported the December 1st incident to the ministry on December 6th. A company representative stated, “We recognize the severity of this situation, especially considering our previous warning. We are conducting comprehensive interviews with the involved crew members to prevent future occurrences.”
Photo: Clément AlloingSimilar Incidents
This incident is not isolated. On April 24th, 2024, a male captain scheduled for flight JL11 from Dallas/Fort Worth to Tokyo/Haneda was found intoxicated at the hotel, causing flight cancellation. Following such incidents, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism issued a stern warning to JAL on May 27th, compelling the airline to submit preventive measures on June 11th.
In March 2024, Delta Air Lines (DL) pilot Lawrence Russell, 63, pleaded guilty after airport security discovered open alcohol bottles in his luggage before a scheduled flight from Edinburgh to New York.
In June of the previous year, Scottish airport security searched Russell and found two Jägermeister bottles in his luggage, one half-full. Russell admitted to reporting for duty while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
The incident occurred on June 16 at Edinburgh Airport during a standard luggage check around 8 am. Russell, wearing his Delta Air Lines pilot uniform, was immediately interrogated by police after alcohol was detected in his bag.
A subsequent breathalyzer test revealed Russell’s blood alcohol concentration significantly exceeded the legal limit for aviation personnel. He was arrested and held in custody at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, where he admitted to the charges.
Russell, from Georgia where Delta is headquartered, was scheduled to pilot a Boeing 767 carrying passengers from Edinburgh to New York before his detention.
Photo: Clément AlloingUnited Pilot Arrest
Similarly, in July 2023, a 63-year-old United Airlines (UA) pilot faced legal consequences in Paris after being caught with excessive alcohol levels before a scheduled flight to Washington.
Gendarmes at Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport observed clear signs of intoxication on July 23rd. The pilot, identified as Henry W, displayed obvious drunkenness, including staggering, glassy eyes, and a visibly impaired demeanor.
A breathalyzer test confirmed the pilot’s alcohol level exceeded the legal limit for aviation personnel in Europe. Police arrested and detained him overnight at the Bobigny court cells.
During court proceedings, the pilot claimed to have consumed only two glasses of wine the previous evening. However, the court rejected his explanation and emphasized the potentially catastrophic consequences of his actions.
The Bobigny court handed down a six-month suspended prison sentence, accompanied by a €4,500 fine and a one-year pilot license suspension. The court critically noted that the pilot’s behavior could have risked the lives of 267 passengers on the flight.
Such cases are not restricted to pilots, Last month, two Delta Air Lines flight attendants failed breathalyzer tests moments before a flight from Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) to New York (JFK).
The incident occurred on November 29, 2024, when two flight attendants—one male and one female—were discovered to be intoxicated during their Thanksgiving layover in Amsterdam
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