Drunk Japan Airlines pilot was 'almost 10 times over limit'

World

A Japan Airlines pilot who was arrested in Britain shortly before a flight for being drunk was almost 10 times over the legal blood alcohol limit for a pilot, London police said.

The incident came a day after another Japanese carrier apologised for multiple delays after a hungover pilot called in sick.

The co-pilot, identified as Katsutoshi Jitsukawa, 42, was arrested by British police and required to undergo a blood test that confirmed those results.

He had reportedly consumed two bottles of wine and more than 1.8 litres (nearly four US pints) of beer over six hours on the night before the flight.

“We are certain (the in-house breath test) wasn't conducted properly,” JAL communications chief Muneaki Kitahara told reporters Thursday.

A spokesman for the London police said a test on the co-pilot taken 50 minutes before the flight's scheduled departure revealed 189 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood in his system -- almost 10 times the 20-milligram limit for a pilot.

The drink-drive limit in England is 80 milligrams.

The pilot later pleaded guilty before a court to being over the legal limit, and is expected to be sentenced on November 29. The plane departed London after a delay of 69 minutes.

- AFP

Comments

Still No Comments Posted.

Leave Comments

Most Reviews

May 31, 2025

- 488 - 0

Flt Lt Kasun Cumaratunga , more than a pilot, a guardian remembered on his 37th death anniversary

Kasun, was born in 28th Sept 1964, the grandson of the legendary author and linguist Munidasa Cumaratunga and son of SSP Bindu Kumaratunga and Winifred

June 2, 2025

- 457 - 0

National Tax week launched

The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) backed by the Excise and Customs Department today launched a fresh drive to collect taxes including some Rs.780 billion listed as ‘collectable defaults’.

June 2, 2025

- 363 - 0

SriLankan Airlines’ new A330 Fleet to perform low fly past over Colombo on Wed.

May 30, 2025

- 265 - 0

In Pix: Weather situation in Colombo

June 3, 2025

- 203 - 0

Krishanthi Kumaraswami convicts FR dismissed by SC

The Supreme Court today unanimously dismissed a Fundamental Rights petition filed by five convicts in the 1996 Krishanthi Kumaraswamy abduction, rape, and murder case.