Airlines

Japan Airlines flight was canceled, after pilot got drunk & rowdy behavior

Last week, a routine flight from Dallas Fort Worth to Tokyo Haneda turned into a saga of unexpected turbulence when Japan Airlines Flight JL11 was abruptly grounded due to the unruly conduct of its captain.

The incident, which made headlines in local media, sheds light on the critical issue of alcohol consumption and professional responsibility within the aviation industry. Scheduled to take off at 11:05 am on April 24th, Flight JL11 was poised to ferry 157 passengers across the Pacific on a 12-hour journey to Tokyo.

However, the departure was thwarted as the pilot’s behavior at the crew layover hotel raised serious concerns. Around 2 am, hotel staff were compelled to summon the authorities as the captain’s disruptive antics reverberated through the premises, disturbing fellow guests.

Despite not breaching Japan Airlines’ guidelines regarding alcohol consumption within 12 hours of duty, the pilot’s conduct prompted precautionary measures. While the passengers of Flight JL11 were later accommodated on an American Airlines flight, the repercussions of the pilot’s actions continued to reverberate.

Of particular interest is the fact that the captain wasn’t slated to operate the return flight to Tokyo for over 24 hours, minimizing concerns regarding his sobriety during duty hours. Nevertheless, the incident underscores the complexities surrounding alcohol policies within the airline industry.

Japan Airlines, known for its stringent regulations, imposes a 12-hour prohibition on pilots flying after consuming alcohol, a policy designed to uphold safety standards. Notably, there was a brief period where this cut-off time was extended to 24 hours, highlighting the evolving nature of such protocols.

Following the incident, the pilot was questioned by authorities and cautioned against further misconduct. However, despite assurances, Japan Airlines opted to ground him for the subsequent flight, resulting in the cancellation of the 1:05 am departure when a replacement pilot couldn’t be secured.

In a statement, the airline expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to passengers, attributing the disruption to the pilot’s “inappropriate behavior.”

Airlines

Virgin Atlantic Sued Over Alleged Age Discrimination: Cabin Crew Seek Justice

Virgin Atlantic finds itself embroiled in legal proceedings as over 200 former cabin crew members launch a lawsuit against the airline, alleging discriminatory practices during the period of the pandemic.

The dispute centers on accusations that the company unfairly targeted older employees for dismissal while retaining newer, less costly hires.

The pandemic’s onset in March 2020 triggered a cascade of challenges for the aviation industry, leading Virgin Atlantic to ground a significant portion of its fleet. In response, the airline swiftly implemented cost-cutting measures, including the reduction of its workforce by over 40%, amounting to the loss of 3,000 jobs.

Additionally, it established a “holding pool” for potentially rehiring redundant staff once normal operations resumed. However, the crux of the legal battle lies in the claim that Virgin Atlantic retained approximately 350 new cabin crew members, some with minimal training periods as short as a week.

While simultaneously letting go of experienced onboard managers, many of whom boasted an average age of 45 years and two decades of service. This perceived discrepancy forms the backbone of the lawsuit, with former employees contending that age became a determining factor in the airline’s decision-making process.

In response, a Virgin Atlantic representative stated: “Virgin Atlantic had to make very difficult decisions following the severe impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the aviation industry.” Regretfully, this meant a 45% reduction in the total number of employees within the company.

Airlines

End of an Era: Qantas Retires Final Boeing 767 Freighter

Qantas has officially bid farewell to its last Boeing 767 aircraft, marking the end of an era that began nearly four decades ago.

The final 767, a dedicated freighter variant registered as VH-EFR, operated its last flight on May 17, 2024. This concluding journey took it from Hong Kong (HKG) to Sydney (SYD) under the flight number QF7526, closing the chapter on Qantas’s use of the 767 after 39 years.

The Australian airline commemorated the occasion with an Instagram post on Friday, announcing the retirement of VH-EFR, their last remaining 767. According to Cirium Ascend Fleet Analyzer data, this aircraft is a little over 18 years old. It joined the Qantas fleet in 2011, having previously served Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) as a cargo plane.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Qantas (@qantas)

Despite being owned by Qantas, the aircraft was operated by Express Freighters Australia under the Qantas Freight brand.

The Boeing 767 has had a versatile history with Qantas. Initially, the aircraft was used on international routes, flying to destinations in New Zealand, Asia, and North America. Following the 1992 merger with Australian Airlines, the 767s were increasingly deployed for domestic services as well.

Although Qantas is retiring this specific freighter, the Boeing 767-300 freighter model remains active globally. Records indicate that 280 of these aircraft are still operational, serving 14 airlines around the world.

Airlines

United Flight Diverts to Shannon, After Stuck Laptop in Business Class Seat

A United Airlines flight from Zurich to Chicago O’Hare was forced to make an emergency diversion to Shannon, Ireland.

On Saturday afternoon after a passenger got their laptop wedged in a Business Class seat aboard the Boeing 767-300. Operating as United Flight 12, the aircraft departed from Flughafen Zürich at 9:46 a.m. local time and took off at 10:08 a.m.

The captain decided to divert the flight not because the passenger couldn’t access their laptop, but because any device powered by lithium-ion batteries that becomes inaccessible could pose a significant safety risk.

Such devices, if damaged or overheated, could lead to a thermal runaway event, potentially causing a fire on board. The Boeing 767-300, featuring United’s relatively new Polaris business-class cabin, landed safely at Shannon Airport in County Clare at 1:43 p.m. IST (Irish Summer Time) and reached the gate at 1:51 p.m.

In a statement, United Airlines acknowledged the diversion: “United flight 12 scheduled from Zurich to Chicago landed safely in Shannon to address a potential safety risk caused by a laptop being stuck in an inaccessible location.” This situation led to the cancellation of the flight, and the airline is working to reroute the 157 passengers who found themselves unexpectedly in Ireland.

Frequent flyers are often reminded in airline safety videos not to move their seats if they lose mobile phones or other gadgets powered by lithium-ion batteries within the seats. Attempting to retrieve such items by moving the seat can damage the battery and potentially cause a dangerous situation.