Drunk Japanese pilot removed from cockpit at London Heathrow

Crew driver called police after smelling alcohol on Japan Airlines first officer’s breath

A Japan Airlines flight takes off after drunk pilot removed from plane
(Image credit: 2008 AFP)

A Japanese pilot has admitted to being almost ten times over the legal drinking limit for commericial pilots less than an hour before he was due to pilot a flight from London Heathrow to Tokyo.

A crew bus driver contacted police after he smelt alcohol on the pilot, identified as 42-year-old Japan Airlines officer Katsutoshi Jitsukawa.

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