Jail for drunk pilot 10 times over the limit

TEST Katsutoshi Jitsukawa A PILOT caught almost 10 times over the limit as he prepared to fly a passenger jet to Tokyo has been jailed for 10 months.

First officer Katsutoshi Jitsukawa, 42, failed a breath test 50 minutes before the plane was due to leave Heathrow Airport.

The Japan Airlines co-pilot had 189mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood when arrested in October. The limit is 20mg for pilots.

Judge Phillip Matthews told Isleworth crown court yesterday: “The potential consequences for those on board was catastrophic.”

The court heard Japanese Jitsukawa, of no fixed address, had been suffering insomnia and depression.

He admitted performing an aviation function when his ability was impaired through alcohol.