A court in London has sentenced a co-pilot of Japan Airlines (JAL) to 10 months in jail - because the 42-year-old wanted to drive a plane despite being very drunk. The man had been detained at London Heathrow Airport at the end of October.
A bus driver, who brought the crew to the plane, had noticed the strong alcohol-smelling breath of the co-pilot and informed the police. An alcohol test showed a value of just under 1.8 per thousand - almost ten times that allowed. In court, the accused confessed to have drunk about two bottles of wine and a beer before the scheduled flight.
Judge Phillip Matthews said the co-pilot put the passengers in danger. The consequences could have been catastrophic if nobody had intervened. "The idea that you took control of this plane is too terrible to think about," the judge said.