Airline forced to breathalyse staff after co-pilot caught almost 10 times over limit

Airline forced to breathalyse staff after co-pilot caught almost 10 times over limit

A Japan Airlines co-pilot was caught with a blood alcohol content of almost 10 times the legal limit last month, when he was due to fly from London’s Heathrow Airport.

Katsutoshi Jitsukawa drank around two bottles of wine, plus a pitcher of beer, the night before his flight. Tests found that the 42-year-old had a blood alcohol level of 0.189 – and the legal limit for a pilot is 0.02.

Jitsukawa tried to mask the smell of alcohol from his colleagues but was caught by a crew bus driver, who then reported him to British police.

As a result, the airline has instigated new policies around its pilots’ alcohol consumption, banning drinking 24 hours before a flight and breathalysing many of its staff before they start work.

Jitsukawa was, in fact, breathalysed – but Japan Airlines believed he falsified the results, according to the ABC. 

“The two captains were found at fault for neglecting to double-check the test results reported by the co-pilot,” the airline said.

The flight was delayed by over an hour, which the airline apologised for. Japan Airlines also submitted “key preventative measures” to the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau following the incident, as per the ABC. 

“The co-pilot lacked an awareness on the effects of alcohol, including the time it takes to fully decompose it out of one’s system,” it said in the submission.

As well as being banned from drinking 24 hours before a flight, Japan Airlines pilots are also banned from alcohol during the length of an on-duty stay, both in Japan and overseas.

Plus, cabin crew, mechanics, airport operations staff and ground handling crew will also be breathalysed.

New breathalyser machines have also been installed at London Heathrow.

Jitsukawa was charged with breaking British aviation law and will be sentenced at London’s Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court in two weeks.

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