crime

Drunk JAL copilot arrested for hitting policeman

22 Comments

A Japan Airlines (JAL) copilot who had been drinking was arrested late Monday for hitting a policeman, an accident which led to the cancellation of the flight the copilot was supposed to board, police reported.

Soichi Tatsumi, 42, was arrested on charges of business obstruction at around 10 p.m. on Monday after he slapped a policeman, who was dispatched to a hotel to resolve a fight between Tatsumi and another JAL pilot, Fuji TV reported.

According to police, Tatsumi and the pilot were drinking together at a diner in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture on Monday evening, but the two got in a physical argument after returning to their hotel.

As a result of the arrest and inability to find a replacement, JAL was forced to cancel their morning flight from Komatsu in Ishikawa to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, which the copilot was due to fly on Tuesday.

JAL representatives released a statement following the arrest, apologizing for “causing great inconvenience.”

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22 Comments
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I imagine if it wore foreign pilots, it would somehow be bigger news.

16 ( +18 / -2 )

JAL tickets are not cheap, customers pay for safe , timely and professional service. Perhaps time to start using breathalyzers when reporting for duty and more urine test.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

Two pilots fighting... does anyone want to bet that the fight was related to some JAL flight attendant both were interested in?! Just saying.....

7 ( +11 / -4 )

The flaps should be set to 15 degrees.

No, they should be 20 degrees.

15 degrees! Don't argue with me you stupid fool.

No captain, it's 15 degrees.

Off with your head!

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Zones 2surf, are you suggesting an Ishikawa Triangle? Hmm... Could be very possible!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

was arrested late Monday for hitting a policeman, an accident which

You mean, "incident". "Accident" would mean that he hit the policeman by mistake. Well, he might say that when interrogated, or the classic "I was drunk at the time, I don't remember anything."

7 ( +7 / -0 )

I wonder if the 'other pilot' was the actual pilot for the flight that the co-pilot was to be on. They would have made quite a pair in the air...

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I wonder, will JAL find some way to charge passengers for sober pilots?

6 ( +7 / -1 )

The Womp

I imagine if it wore foreign pilots, it would somehow be bigger news.

You are right!

4 ( +5 / -1 )

I imagine if it wore foreign pilots, it would somehow be bigger news.

Of course. You wouldn't hear the end of it.

Two pilots fighting... does anyone want to bet that the fight was related to some JAL flight attendant both were interested in?! Just saying.....

So true.

I may even have slapped the same policeman...

go for it mate

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Time to try the old NWA test. Run the DWI arrests against the Jal Pilots list. See how many hits you get.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

"Run the DWI arrests against the JAL Pilots list"

The TV reports said that the same co-pilot was arrested in 2010 for going in a drunken rampage through another hotel. He faced "disciplinary action" but obviously was not sacked...

Welcome to Japan!!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

What are JAL's rules on drinking before flights? For many airlines pilots must not drink alcohol less than 12 hours before their next flight. If these guys were brawling in a bar at 10 pm and they had a morning flight it's likely they would break such a rule.

It sounds like JAL need to increase random breath testing of pilots and fire those who fail. But what if that led to a shortage of pilots? Could it be that JAL are putting profits before safety? Surely not. Such things never happen in Japan, do they?

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Now I now with whom not to fly!

Thanks JT.....

1 ( +2 / -1 )

thanks the flight was cancelled, imagine being on a aircraft with a mad pilots... id rather change my flight

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Contrary to what many people believe, getting drunk and arrested won't get you fired from most companies. This pilot has not committed any offence against the laws of the air, therefore he'll be punished, but it still a pilot.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Scrote, JAL's in-house no drinking rule is also 12 hours before a flight.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Suddenly, I feel very happy that I have not booked any flights with JAL!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I find it hard to imagine that they didn't have a reserve pilot in stand-by. They must really be running a very tight ship. This is concerning since how many pilots come to work who may be sick, since they know that there may not be enough reserve pilots to take over and JAL doesn't want the reputation of canceling flights and fosters a culture of "duty first" never mind if you are sick.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

revoke their flying license idiots like this shouldn't even be driving a bus

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The flight the following day was scheduled to depart Komatsu at 7:45 am. That almost certainly means the pilot broke JAL's no drinking 12 hours before a flight rule. How many other JAL pilots do the same?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I pulled a muscle laughing! Oh this is funny! However, it would not have been funny had they boarded the airplane intoxicated. Very irresponsible men.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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