Skymark Raided over Pilot Drinking Problem

December 4, 2018

Tokyo--Japan's transport ministry conducted Tuesday an on-site inspection of Skymark Airlines based on the aviation law after a pilot tested positive for alcohol before flight and caused a flight delay.

The ministry has already inspected All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines <9201> over pilots' drinking and resulting flight delays.

Based on outcomes of the inspections, the ministry will consider punitive measures against each of the three airlines.

According to Skymark, the captain tested positive for alcohol in a simple test on Nov. 14 at Tokyo International Airport at Haneda, after drinking 3.5 liters of beer at home the previous day.

Although the American captain's breath alcohol concentration could not be measured because he and other staff members, including copilots, were unfamiliar with how to use the tester, the carrier replaced him with another captain, forcing the flight bound for New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido to depart 23 minutes behind schedule.

Later the same day, the airline found in a breath test that the replaced captain's alcohol level was below the upper limit. But it gave him a strong warning in view of the massive alcohol intake the day before the flight.

The ministry said Tuesday that it will hold a meeting with top officials of 25 domestic carriers the following day to discuss preventive measures. Jiji Press