Japan Airlines acknowledged that it had been reprimanded by the Japanese
government after one of its pilots took a medicine prohibited for use when
flying planes. The pilot flew seven domestic flights in three days while taking
the banned medication, necessary after he had some surgery. It was the latest
in a series of safety mishaps—including a wheel falling off and an engine
catching fire—that have plagued the airline of late. Management infighting has
also weakened JAL, which is seeing strong competition from All Nippon Airways.
In the most recent incident, the pilot had also returned to work without having
been examined by a physician to certify his fitness to fly. JAL said it takes
the reprimand seriously and will report its plan for improvements to
