Japan Airlines Delays Three Hawaii Flights After Pilot Caught Drinking

Japan Airlines faced major disruption last week after a pilot was caught drinking before duty, forcing delays of up to 18 hours on three flights from Hawaii to Japan.

The incident occurred on August 28, when the captain scheduled to operate Flight JL793 from Honolulu to Chubu Centrair International Airport admitted to consuming three cans of beer in his hotel room the day before departure. He was deemed unfit to fly, and a replacement pilot had to be assigned.

As a result, JL793 and two subsequent flights bound for Tokyo Haneda were delayed by up to 18 hours, affecting around 630 passengers, according to Kyodo News. Japan Airlines added that the pilot had previously manipulated the alcohol detector’s date and time settings to conceal test results, raising broader concerns about his conduct.

The airline has apologized to affected customers and pledged stronger measures to prevent recurrence.

Japanese transport and aviation authorities have launched an investigation, visiting the airline’s Tokyo headquarters this week. “We sincerely apologize to our customers and all parties involved for the inconvenience and trouble caused,” Japan Airlines said in a statement, pledging stricter measures to prevent future incidents.

This marks at least the fourth case of alcohol-related misconduct involving Japan Airlines pilots in recent years. In April 2024, a Dallas–Tokyo flight was canceled after a captain was reported drunk by hotel staff. Earlier this year, two JAL pilots were suspended after drinking before their Melbourne–Tokyo service.

The issue is not unique to Japan Airlines. In March 2024, a Delta Air Lines pilot was jailed after being caught over the alcohol limit before a transatlantic flight from Edinburgh to New York, while in January a Southwest Airlines pilot was removed from duty for a DUI charge.

Japan Airlines has not responded to further requests for comment.


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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, yahoo.com