Japan Airlines Pilot Jailed For Being Nearly Ten Times Booze Limit

A Japan Airlines pilot has been jailed after being caught in the cockpit of his Tokyo-bound passenger jet while nearly ten times the alcohol limit.

First Officer Katsutoshi Jitsukawa, 42, was preparing to fly the Boeing 777 from Heathrow Airport when he was arrested after a tip-off from the bus driver who transported him and the flight crew to the plane.

He pleaded guilty to performing an aviation function with alcohol in his blood exceeding the prescribed legal limit at Heathrow Airport on October 28.

Jitsukawa received ten months imprisonment at Isleworth Crown Court, which heard his blood alcohol level was 189 milligrams.

The legal flying limit 20.

He was even more than double the far more generous UK drink-driving limit.

Jitsukawa was arrested at 6.50pm – approximately 50 minutes before the plane was due to take off.

Grounded Jitsukawa

Inspector Iain Goble, of Aviation Policing, said: "This is an incredibly serious offence as Jitsukawa, a member of the airline crew, had responsibility for performing a critical role.

“This conviction reflects he displayed not only total disregard for the safety of all the passengers and staff on his flight, but also the wider public.

"Clearly, the consequences could potentially have been catastrophic had security staff and police not intervened and he had continued to perform his role on the aircraft in the state he was.

"I would like to praise the security staff who acted quickly and professionally upon suspecting that Jitsukawa was not fit to fly and alerted police."