Japan Air Lines (JAL) has come under intense scrutiny after a series of incidents involving drunk pilots prompting criticism and fines for senior management.
The airline’s history of pilot drinking issues is not new, but recurring violations and delays have exposed systemic challenges. In response, senior management has taken pay cuts — a move meant to signal responsibility and promote change.
The issue with drinking has cost Japan Air Lines ranking points in 42kft.com’s safety assessment, scoring only 7 / 10. See the rankings here.
JAL’s trouble with pilot alcohol use goes back several years. One notable case occurred in 2018, when a pilot was arrested in London for having a blood alcohol level nearly ten times the limit shortly before a London-to-Tokyo flight. That case triggered internal and public backlash, and in its wake JAL introduced a breathalyser system for overseas airports to detect any violations of its alcohol rules.
More recently, in December 2024, two pilots for JAL scheduled to fly from Melbourne to Tokyo tested above the alcohol limit in a pre-flight check at their hotel. The flight was delayed by over three hours.
Other incidents include a flight being cancelled in April 2024 after a captain was intoxicated and behaving disruptively during a layover, including in a hotel.
In August 2025 another serious disruption occurred: a pilot admitted to drinking before a scheduled international flight from Honolulu, which resulted in delays for multiple flights (around 18 hours for some), affecting some 630 passengers. The pilot reportedly had a history of similar behaviour and had attempted to cover his past infractions by manipulating detection devices. JAL has rules that prohibit alcohol consumption within 12 hours of reporting for duty. In response to earlier breaches, the company introduced breathalyser tests, particularly at overseas stations, to enforce compliance.
Japanese transport authorities have also stepped in repeatedly. After several safety incidents, including those involving alcohol, JAL was instructed to take preventive measures, report plans to the ministry, and improve internal oversight.
When these pilot misdeeds occur, JAL leadership has not remained untouched. In the December 2024 Melbourne-Tokyo case, President Mitsuko Tottori and Chairperson Yuji Akasaka were given a 30% salary reduction for two months. Three other executives in charge of flight operations and safety management also faced disciplinary measures. Akasaka was removed from his role overseeing safety.
This kind of punishment isn’t without precedent. In the 2018 London incident, several managers (including Akasaka) suffered pay cuts of about 20% for three months.
Despite stricter rules and stricter enforcement, incidents continue to occur. For example, the August 28, 2025, incident in Hawaii (involving a drunk pilot) prompted an apology from JAL and a fresh warning from the transport ministry.
These repeated breaches raise deeper questions: Is the culture within JAL sufficiently safety-focused? Are current oversight and disciplinary measures strong enough deterrents? For customers and regulators, the recurring pattern risks undermining trust in the airline’s commitment to safety.
