Administrative Guidance (Administrative Warning) Regarding Alcohol-Related Misconduct of Cockpit Crew
On September 10, 2025, Japan Airlines received an Administrative Guidance (Administrative Warning) from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism regarding the improper drinking of one flight crew member (captain) who was scheduled to operate flight JL793 [Honolulu to Chubu (Nagoya)] on August 28 (local time).
The issues pointed out in the Administrative Warning are as follows:
- The company managed and supervised the captain to a certain extent in terms of drinking habits based on the results of physical examination, although considering the fact of captain consuming alcohol in excess of the limit(*) set in the operational regulations, it is acknowledged that this act was personal malicious, and the management and supervision relating to alcohol were insufficient.
(*) Limit the amount of alcohol remaining in the body to the equivalent of 4 drinks or less,at 12 hours before the start of flight duty. - Since last year there have been repeated alcohol-related incidents, and safety awareness is not being thoroughly raised among employees.
As an immediate action to prevent a recurrence, we will promptly reconsider our system for management and supervision relating to alcohol, and as part of this, we will proceed with measures including prohibiting flight crew members who are especially at high risk of drinking from performing their duties.
We take extremely seriously the fact that despite having received Business Improvement Advisory and advancing preventive measures for recurrence, this incident has occurred again.
We sincerely apologize for the great concern and inconvenience caused to our customers and all stakeholders. With an unwavering resolve never to let this happen a second time, we will conduct a thorough root cause analysis and implement fundamental measures to prevent recurrence.
September 10, 2025
Japan Airlines