Japan Airlines (JAL) has banned cabin crew from drinking alcohol during layovers before return flights, according to The Japan Times.
The policy change comes after a flight attendant tested positive for alcohol ahead of a domestic service, delaying departure by more than 40 minutes and prompting an inspection by Japan’s transport ministry.
What happened
Flight JL252, scheduled to depart Hiroshima Airport (HIJ) for Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) at 07:40 local time on May 23, 2026, was delayed until 08:22 local time after a female cabin attendant was found to have consumed more alcohol than permitted under company rules.
The attendant had been drinking with a colleague at a hotel lounge the night before, violating JAL’s policy that prohibits alcohol consumption within 12 hours of duty. She tested positive during a self-check but did not report the result and proceeded to the airport, where she again tested positive.
JAL barred her from boarding and deployed replacement staff, pushing back departure by 42 minutes.
A total of 186 passengers were affected. The colleague she had been drinking with reported that she was unwell and could not board the flight. Both were scheduled to work the same flight, with one serving as chief attendant.
Transport ministry steps in
Japan’s transport ministry conducted on-site inspections of JAL on May 28, 2026. Officials interviewed those involved and examined documents to assess what had happened, reviewing the airline’s efforts to prevent future incidents.
According to JAL, it is taking the loss of public trust extremely seriously and has implemented an immediate ban on drinking by cabin crew during layovers ahead of return flights.
This is not the first time that JAL has faced scrutiny over crew alcohol violations, however.
In August 2025, a male captain on an international flight drank excessively before his return service, prompting a formal warning from the transport ministry.