A domestic Japan Airlines flight carrying 186 passengers was delayed by more than 40 minutes after a cabin crew member allegedly consumed alcohol before reporting for duty.
The incident involved flight JL252 travelling from Hiroshima Airport to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on May 23.
According to the airline, the flight had originally been scheduled to depart at 7.40am but eventually left at around 8.22am after replacement crew arrangements had to be made.
Japan Airlines later confirmed that one of the cabin attendants had consumed more alcohol than company regulations permitted during the previous night while on a layover.
The staff member had reportedly been drinking with a colleague at a hotel lounge before the scheduled morning flight.
Cabin Crew Member Reportedly Tested Positive Twice
Reports stated that the cabin attendant first tested positive for alcohol during a self-check but allegedly failed to report the result immediately.
After arriving at the airport, the crew member reportedly underwent another alcohol screening and again tested positive.
The airline subsequently removed the individual from duty and arranged for backup cabin crew to operate the flight instead.
A colleague who had also been scheduled to work on the same flight reportedly informed the airline that they were unwell and did not board the aircraft either.
Under Japan Airlines policy, cabin crew members are prohibited from consuming alcohol within 12 hours of reporting for duty.
Following the latest incident, the airline announced a stricter policy banning cabin crew from drinking alcohol during hotel layovers before flights.
The airline said it takes the matter seriously due to growing public concerns over operational safety and passenger trust.
Japan Airlines Faces Renewed Scrutiny Over Alcohol Incidents
The incident has reignited scrutiny over alcohol-related cases involving Japan Airlines staff in recent years.
Officials from Japan’s transport ministry reportedly carried out inspections at the airline on May 28 to review the circumstances surrounding the delay and evaluate the company’s preventive measures.
This is not the first time the airline has faced criticism over crew alcohol incidents.
In 2025, a Japan Airlines flight departing from Honolulu was delayed for more than 18 hours after alcohol was detected on a pilot before departure.
Another earlier case reportedly involved a captain accused of excessive drinking before an international service.
Online discussions following the latest incident have been divided, with some people arguing that the punishment may appear excessive since the case involved cabin crew rather than pilots.
However, others pointed out that cabin crew members play a critical role during emergencies, including evacuations, medical incidents and passenger safety procedures.
The airline has stated that it will continue strengthening internal enforcement and preventive measures to avoid similar incidents in future.