ANA flight delayed after pilot exceeds blood-alcohol limit
TOKYO —
An All Nippon Airways flight captain was found to have exceeded the company’s blood-alcohol limit prior to a flight on Saturday, the airline said Monday.
The flight in question, Flight 175, was scheduled to leave Kansai International Airport for Hong Kong at 10:15 a.m., but was delayed for 74 minutes because of the incident, NTV reported.
The 62-year-old pilot showed a blood alcohol content of .19 ml per liter of blood, exceeding the limit set forward by ANA policy. The captain was found to have consumed about 2 bottles of sake and 1 large bottle of beer the night before the scheduled departure, NTV reported.
ANA, which is still reeling from a similar incident that occurred last month, has pledged even stronger measures to prevent another repeat.
Japan Today
Order by Time Order by Popularity
39 Comments
Login to comment
-6
Elbuda Mexicano
I am not too sure what to make of these stupid pilots at ANA. What the hell was this 62 year pilot thinking?? Oh, let me get some more shochu and jump into a shinkansen and have a few more chu his, whisky, etc...??NO!! You stupid idiot pilot! You are FLYING A PLANE!! With our lives at stake!
-5
Elbuda Mexicano
This is scary, just to think, hey I am getting all this $$$, one of the best airlines not only in all of Japan, but maybe the top 10 in the world, and pulling this kind of crap?? For shame!
-3
tabana
I don't know ANA's limit, but I wish it's less than for cars in most countries. I wished I didn't read this news, since I'm schedule to fly in 12 hours or so.
-3
some14some
Time for him to retire and enjoy alcoholic life :(
-3
sfjp330
This is a frequent problem for the pilots. Pilots are also human beings and they make mistakes. Like all of us, some don't use good judgements. Pilots are constantly on microscope to perform well and are judged like robots. Sure they get paid alot of money, but the high stress level is there and alcohol is needed for some pilots to calm their nerves. Maybe they are flying too many hours without breaks. The airlines should study the stress level and give them proper interval breaks. The airlines only think of profits first and rarely thinks of welfare of their workers.
-3
Serrano
Another one! Well at least they are catching these bozos!
-3
sfjp330
Maybe ANA should have no tolerance policy. Fire these pilots if they are caught.
-6
JeffLee
How was he discovered, I wonder? Was he caught, did he report himself or was he subject to a random test? These are key questions -- not the fact that the flight was delayed 74 minutes.
-3
TinMadDog
Bozos? These guys are following the rules. No, pilots don't come with an alcohol gauge sticking out of their butts. They take a breath test, and pass or fail. They don't know they will fail. That is why they take the test!
The system works for what it is designed to do: prevent inebriated pilots from flying. Where it fails is the PR department, and that is because people can be notoriously jumpy and short-sighted. And that is why other airlines have stricter rules, even though it makes no practical difference. Its just keeps the commentators from commenting.
-3
Nessie
Their pilots already do.
I'll show myself out.
-2
NetNinja
Ah Bonenkai season. Obviously there is a pattern developing here. This is not the first time we've seen this.
0
Gurukun
Why is there a limit set in the first place? Is it that hard not to drink the night prior to a flight for a pilot?
Never understood why there are minimum limits for alcohol consumption when operating a plane, car, truck, etc. Should be just plain zero.
0
tmarie
Again???? Jeez ANA get your pilots in line and fire those who put our lives at risk.
-2
Seawolf
Looks like it's safer to take a flight with take-off in the evening rather than early morning...than again, maybe they don't check later in the day as rigorous as in the morning?!
-2
genji17
Wow and yet if this was Australia or Europe....he would have been 100% fine....since this equates to a bAC of about 0.03....and before you even ask...yes id be fine if he flew my plane in that state.
-7
smithinjapan
No doubt it was some kind of enkai, and if not for actual laws there would be a 'shouganai' and the flight would have left as scheduled. So what punishment is the man getting? NOTHING, save perhaps a mild slap on the wrist and maybe a suspension, during which he'll drown his sorrows in... you guessed it... sake! ANA seems to have a serious problem in hiring alcoholic pilots -- and these are just the people caught.
-3
kaminarioyaji
Exactly, with so many variables (how much is drunk, the person's natural tolerance, whether they ate or not, etc) the only way to be sure you are fit to operate a vehicle is what Gurukun says above.
-3
combinibento
If oxygen is needed in an emergency, an oxygen mask will be released from above you. Place the mask over your mouth and nose and tighten the strap. Pull down on the hose to start the oxygen flowing. Make sure you put on your mask first before assisting others such as the pilots, who will likely be too intoxicated to operate the masks on their own.
-2
namabiru4me
He blew 0.19...which is pretty impaired. Should have had a bunch of ukon to help him out!
Wonder how many pilots sleep it off when in flight!
-2
anglootaku
Drink flying
-4
horrified
I dunno -- I'm not sure I would mind this guy piloting my plane. If he was drinking by himself the night before, in a loner-type of way I think he'd be more dangerous. But if he was socially drinking and has his wits about him, then I'm of the opinion he'd be a better pilot than one who is overly serious and uptight.
I drive better after one beer in me. .
/not so good after 2 or 3, though.
-2
Tom DeMicke
Flying, driving, operating machinery, practicing medicine = No alcohol, period! The time and place, folks!
-1
Aqualung
2 bottles of wine and a beer. I wouldn't be afraid to drive the next morning. Of course, flying is a bit more difficult.
-3
Anthony B.
ANNA has become a dangerous airline to fly with. Just recently there was an accident involving their pilot who wasn't skilled enough to operate ANNA's newer model jet (when it flu almost upside down). ANNA has nice jets, but very dangerous pilots. Beware of this airliner and fly with safer airlines like Lufthansa, Austrian, Air Canada, Singapore Airline, JAL (still safer than ANNA).
-2
The Munya Times
What limit? I thought it was zero.
-1
JapanGal
Is there an ANA Pilot on this thread? Sure seems to be monitored by them.
Throw the book at this man and ground him and take his bonus and donate it to Tohoku orphanages.
-2
Hategobo
How many people on here have had a drink and got up next morning feeling 100% sober and jumped in the car and driven to work oblivious of the fact that you would probably fail a breathalyser test if stopped by Mr Plod?
-1
Charles M Burns
Wow, I don't think I could drink that much on a bender, this guy has a bigger problem, he is an alchoholic.
-1
BurakuminDes
In a small way, I feel a bit sorry for the dude - high-pressure job, stress, long hours - and as we all know, getting plastered with co-workers is as Japanese as changing PMs every 3 months. However, he should wait until his retirement to enjoy the delights of being permanently drunk like the rest of the old fogeys in the joint!
-2
soldave
Is the 74 minute delay while they gave him a cup of coffee to sober up?
0
Fadamor
"Drunk is as stupid does." - Forrest Gump's Mother
-1
nisegaijin
Don't see a big deal. It's not like he was drinking on the job. It was the night before. Alcohol wasn't gone at 10:15... sh!t happens. These pilots can fly these planes completely drunk and stoned and none of you will ever notice.
-1
Fadamor
...until an out of the ordinary situation develops and their response-time is too slow. In that case the passengers would probably notice milliseconds before they died. As automated as the flight decks have become, they STILL require alert pilots behind the controls for when Murphy's Law pays a visit. The one thing you could NEVER call a stoned or drunk person is "alert".
0
You-Junkinjapan
Usually the people who are all up in arms over a professional driver blow a bit of an alcohol reading are perfectly A-OK with those who smoke up and then drive. Perhaps even do it themselves. I find this mind boggling.
-1
Gurukun
Would you say this if a person that drank the night before was still drunk the next day and ran your family over?
0
Greapper1
He's pro. I would have died drinking that much.
0
Antonios_M
Again??? ANA, check on your pilots, please. They are ruining your reputation.
Back to top