Japan Airlines hit with second warning over drunk pilots

Tokyo: Japan Airlines publicly apologised Wednesday after a drunk pilot caused the delay of three flights, prompting its second reprimand from the tra...

Tokyo: Japan Airlines publicly apologised Wednesday after a drunk pilot caused the delay of three flights, prompting its second reprimand from the transport ministry in under a year.

JAL president Mitsuko Tottori held a news conference to say sorry over the August 28 incident, in which a pilot had too many drinks in Hawaii and could not operate his flight to Nagoya, Japan, the following day.

The incident caused the delay of three JAL planes, including one up to 18 hours.

Separately on Wednesday, the transport ministry summoned JAL chief safety officer Yukio Nakagawa, who bowed deeply in front of journalists as he received a fresh written warning from a senior official.

In December, JAL banned all alcohol use among flight crew during overnight work stays, after two pilots had too much booze before their flight from Melbourne to Narita.