Japan Airlines enacts tough alcohol rules after drunk pilot arrested

A
Japan Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

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• Japan
  Airlines announced it will enact stricter measures to
  monitor its crew members’ alcohol consumption after the
  carrier’s pilots failed multiple alcohol tests over the past
  year. 
• The Japanese flag carrier will introduce more advanced
  breathalyzers for its domestic and international crews by
  Monday, November 19, The Asahi Shimbun reported. 
• The decision comes on the heels of an incident
  involving Japan Airlines pilot Katsutoshi Jitsukawa, who was
  arrested on October 28 after being almost 10 times over the
  legal limit for alcohol
  prior to his flight at London Heathrow airport, according to
  CNN.
• JAL pilots have failed 19 breathalyzer tests since
  August 2017. 

Japan Airlines announced it will enact stricter measures to
monitor its crew members’ alcohol consumption after its pilots
failed multiple alcohol tests over the past year.

The airline will introduce more advanced breathalyzers for its
domestic and international crews by Monday, November 19, Japanese
national newspaper The Asahi Shimbun reported. 
Crew members with excessive blood alcohol content will face stiff
penalties. 

In addition, Japan Airlines will conduct more frequent medical
checks.  

The decision comes on the heels of an incident involving Japan
Airlines co-pilot Katsutoshi Jitsukawa, who was arrested on October 28 after
being almost 10 times over the legal alcohol limit prior to
his flight at London Heathrow airport in October, according to

CNN.

JAL’s policy, enacted after the Heathrow incident, preventing
pilots from drinking within 24 hours of a flight will remain in
place, The Japan Times reported.

The publication also reported that airline president, Yuji
Akasaka, will be cutting his compensation by 20 percent “to
demonstrate management responsibility.” 

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“The company fully understands the severity of the
violation,” Japan Airlines said in a statement to Business
Insider. “The Company does not condone the individual`s actions,
as safety remains our utmost priority. Please be assured that
actions will be taken immediately.”

According to the BBC, Japanese
law does not set limits for alcohol consumption for its pilots,
which may have played a part in the fact that since August 2017
there have been a whopping 19 instances where Japan Airlines
pilots failed the company’s alcohol tests prior to flying. 

BBC reports that 12
flights were delayed due to these failed alcohol tests, with
another seven requiring an alternate crew in order to operate on
time.