JAL Flight Delayed Again Due to Crew Drinking; Government Issues Severe Warning
On June 12, Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism issued a severe warning to Japan Airlines (JAL) after two flight attendants, including a supervisor, drank alcohol within 12 hours of their duty on May 23, causing a flight from Hiroshima to Haneda to be delayed by over 40 minutes. The supervisor delayed an alcohol test and made false statements. The Ministry stated JAL's safety management system failed and ordered the submission of preventive measures by July 17. JAL has fired the supervisor, suspended the other attendant, and cut the pay of 37 executives.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: June 12, 2026 at 23:02
- 🔍 Collected: June 13, 2026 at 00:45 (1h 43m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 13, 2026 at 04:09 (3h 24m after Collected)
Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) issued a severe warning to Japan Airlines today after two of its flight attendants violated internal aviation transport regulations by consuming alcohol last month, causing a flight delay.
According to NHK, on May 23, two flight attendants, including a supervisor, scheduled to work on a Japan Airlines (JAL) flight from Hiroshima to Haneda, violated JAL's internal rules based on the Civil Aeronautics Act by drinking within 12 hours before their duty. This caused the flight to be delayed by over 40 minutes.
The MLIT's disposition stated that the supervisor, wanting to wait for time to pass to lower their alcohol concentration level, intentionally postponed the pre-departure check that should have been conducted before leaving their accommodation until arriving at the airport. Furthermore, both flight attendants made false statements during the company's inquiry. "Based on these facts, it is recognized that there was an intent to conceal the fact of drinking in violation of regulations the day before duty."
The document also noted that although other crew members repeatedly reminded the supervisor to conduct the internal pre-departure check, the organization failed to grasp the situation and could not promptly determine the crew member's fitness for duty. "This indicates that its safety management system was not functioning adequately."
The MLIT further pointed out in the disposition that "JAL's safety awareness has still not been thoroughly instilled in every employee." In addition to issuing the severe warning today, it has instructed JAL to submit concrete recurrence prevention measures by July 17.
JAL has dismissed the supervisor and suspended the other flight attendant, and has also decided to implement a pay cut for all 37 of its board members.
The report added that last year, JAL also had an incident where an international flight captain violated internal regulations by drinking, causing a departure delay, and similarly received a severe warning from the MLIT.
JAL released a statement saying, "We take this situation very seriously and offer our deepest apologies that such an incident occurred despite our continuous efforts to implement preventive measures following repeated drinking incidents."
According to NHK, on May 23, two flight attendants, including a supervisor, scheduled to work on a Japan Airlines (JAL) flight from Hiroshima to Haneda, violated JAL's internal rules based on the Civil Aeronautics Act by drinking within 12 hours before their duty. This caused the flight to be delayed by over 40 minutes.
The MLIT's disposition stated that the supervisor, wanting to wait for time to pass to lower their alcohol concentration level, intentionally postponed the pre-departure check that should have been conducted before leaving their accommodation until arriving at the airport. Furthermore, both flight attendants made false statements during the company's inquiry. "Based on these facts, it is recognized that there was an intent to conceal the fact of drinking in violation of regulations the day before duty."
The document also noted that although other crew members repeatedly reminded the supervisor to conduct the internal pre-departure check, the organization failed to grasp the situation and could not promptly determine the crew member's fitness for duty. "This indicates that its safety management system was not functioning adequately."
The MLIT further pointed out in the disposition that "JAL's safety awareness has still not been thoroughly instilled in every employee." In addition to issuing the severe warning today, it has instructed JAL to submit concrete recurrence prevention measures by July 17.
JAL has dismissed the supervisor and suspended the other flight attendant, and has also decided to implement a pay cut for all 37 of its board members.
The report added that last year, JAL also had an incident where an international flight captain violated internal regulations by drinking, causing a departure delay, and similarly received a severe warning from the MLIT.
JAL released a statement saying, "We take this situation very seriously and offer our deepest apologies that such an incident occurred despite our continuous efforts to implement preventive measures following repeated drinking incidents."
FAQ
日本航空為何遭到政府嚴重警告？
因其兩名空服員在執勤前12小時內違規飲酒，導致航班延誤，且其中一名主管試圖隱瞞事實，顯示公司安全管理系統失靈，因此國土交通省於6月12日對其發出嚴重警告。
這次飲酒事件發生在何時？對航班造成什麼影響？
事件發生在5月23日，兩名空服員原定執飛廣島至羽田的班機，違規飲酒導致該班機延誤了超過40分鐘。
涉事空服員及日航公司後續受到什麼處分？
主管級空服員遭解僱，另一名空服員被停職。此外，日本航空決定對全體37名董事實施減薪處分。
日本國土交通省對日航提出了什麼要求？
除了發出嚴重警告外，國土交通省也指示日航必須在7月17日之前，提交具體的再犯預防對策。
這是否是日航第一次因員工飲酒問題受罰？
不是。報導中提到，日航在去年（2025年）也曾因國際線機長違規飲酒導致航班延誤，同樣遭到國土交通省的嚴重警告處分。