(TOKYO, JAPAN) Japan Airlines moved to punish its top leadership after a fresh wave of alcohol incidents among pilots, announcing on September 17, 2025, that it will cut pay for 37 executives in a bid to rebuild trust and show stronger safety control. The company said President Mitsuko Tottori and Chief Safety Officer Yukio Nakagawa will each take a 30% salary cut for two months, while 35 other executives will face a 10% salary cut.
The steps follow multiple alcohol incidents in late 2024 and early 2025, including a December case in Melbourne that delayed a flight to Tokyo for more than three hours and drew criticism from Japan’s aviation regulator.
Purpose and company stance
JAL said the broad salary cut is meant to recognize management’s responsibility and to send a clear message that pilot fitness for duty is non‑negotiable. The company also acknowledged that earlier internal reforms did not stop repeat cases.
In a company statement, leadership said past steps to raise safety awareness were not enough, and the new action marks a deeper push for accountability.
“The new action marks a deeper push for accountability” — JAL leadership (company statement).
The most serious recent cases
- December 2024, Melbourne: Two pilots exceeded the alcohol limit before a scheduled flight to Tokyo. This incident delayed the flight by more than three hours and prompted internal reviews and regulator criticism.
- April 2024, Dallas: A separate flight from Dallas to Tokyo was canceled after a pilot was found drunk and behaving badly during a layover, requiring police action.
These incidents are part of a stubborn pattern that dates back years and forced JAL to confront systemic problems in pilot culture, layover discipline, and supervision.
Policy, past incidents, and regulatory response
- JAL policy: no alcohol within 12 hours of boarding; any detectable level at departure is a violation.
- 2018 scandal: A JAL pilot was caught with a blood alcohol level nearly 10 times the legal limit, prompting executive pay cuts and tighter alcohol testing at overseas airports.
- Despite previous changes, the recurrence in 2024–2025 shows continued enforcement and oversight problems.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism issued a formal reprimand after JAL failed to promptly report the December 2024 event, adding regulatory pressure. The ministry’s aviation safety information is available at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
Disciplinary measures and who’s affected
- Total executives penalized: 37
- President Mitsuko Tottori: 30% salary cut for two months
- Chief Safety Officer Yukio Nakagawa: 30% salary cut for two months
- 35 other directors and executive officers: 10% salary cut
Other steps already taken:
– Chairman Yuji Akasaka was removed from his safety oversight role after the December 2024 incident and had his pay cut by 30%.
– Disciplinary measures for three managers in flight operations and safety management are under urgent review.
These actions extend across the C‑suite, board, and senior ranks, reflecting the company’s intent to show collective responsibility.
How the process works after an alcohol detection
- Pilots take a breathalyzer before duty.
- Any positive result removes the pilot from the flight immediately.
- The incident is reported internally up the chain of command.
- JAL must alert the regulator quickly.
In the December 2024 case, a delay in regulatory reporting prompted criticism and the ministry’s reprimand. That delay intensified public concern and led to internal reviews, role changes, and executive salary cuts.
What JAL says it will do next
Leaders said they will strengthen safety controls and oversight, but have not released a full list of technical steps. JAL acknowledges the core issue goes beyond individual crew members and points to:
– system problems in pilot culture,
– layover discipline,
– supervision and enforcement.
A few possible directions (not yet confirmed by JAL) include:
– more random testing,
– different layover rules,
– revised scheduling to reduce fatigue,
– closer manager sign‑offs on crew fitness.
Wider context: corporate culture and industry reaction
- These steps align with long‑standing Japanese corporate norms that emphasize collective responsibility: senior officials accept blame to show the public they grasp the weight of the problem.
- Public salary cuts play a PR role: visible penalties can reassure passengers that leaders take safety seriously.
- VisaVerge.com analysis: JAL’s size and speed of action reflect a belief that leadership must model expected conduct when safety is at stake. JAL’s public discipline at the top is more severe than most global peers.
Operational and reputational effects
- Passenger impact: The December Melbourne delay and April Dallas cancellation disrupted travelers and can erode trust among families, business travelers, and tourists.
- For pilots and frontline staff:
- Expect tighter checks, more supervision on international layovers, and stronger peer pressure to follow rules.
- Faster removal from duty at the first sign of a problem.
- For managers and executives:
- A clear message that oversight must be active and daily, not just policy on paper.
- The financial hit is temporary but public, potentially affecting careers and reputations.
Outstanding questions and regulator stance
- JAL has not yet detailed specific technical fixes, leaving questions such as:
- Will there be more random tests?
- Will layover rules change?
- Will scheduling be adjusted to reduce fatigue?
- The ministry’s reprimand emphasized the duty to report quickly and fully. If further incidents occur, the ministry could impose more oversight or new requirements, increasing pressure on JAL’s compliance systems.
Bottom line and outlook
JAL’s leaders say they regret the lapses and accept responsibility. The combination of 30% cuts for top safety leaders and 10% cuts across other executives is a strong, visible response intended to restore trust.
What will determine success:
– Keeping pilots sober and fit for duty,
– Reporting events promptly to regulators,
– Maintaining on-time, uneventful flights.
JAL’s history — from the 2018 scandal to the 2024–2025 cases — shows that policy alone is insufficient. Long-term improvement requires daily practice, consistent enforcement, and strengthened oversight. Passengers, staff, and regulators will now be watching for concrete results rather than statements.
This Article in a Nutshell
Japan Airlines announced on September 17, 2025 that it will cut pay for 37 executives after a fresh wave of pilot alcohol incidents in late 2024 and early 2025. President Mitsuko Tottori and Chief Safety Officer Yukio Nakagawa will each take a 30% salary cut for two months; 35 other directors and officers will face 10% reductions. The move responds to high-profile incidents—most notably a December 2024 Melbourne case that delayed a flight more than three hours—and criticism from Japan’s aviation regulator for delayed reporting. JAL framed the cuts as recognition of management responsibility and a signal to strengthen safety controls. The airline said it will increase oversight and consider measures such as more random testing, revised layover rules, and scheduling changes, but has not released a detailed technical plan. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism issued a reprimand after JAL’s delayed reporting of the Melbourne incident. The company expects tighter checks, faster removal from duty on positive alcohol tests, and increased managerial accountability. Success will depend on sustained enforcement, cultural change in pilot behavior, timely reporting to regulators, and concrete operational reforms. Passengers, staff, and regulators will monitor JAL’s follow-through.
