After a spate of recent alcohol-related scandals involving pilots of Japanese airlines, transport minister Keiichi Ishii said his ministry will hold a meeting of 25 domestic airline companies on Wednesday to thwart similar problems.

The meeting aims to share information on preventative measures compiled by a group involving All Nippon Airways Co. and Japan Airlines Co. whose pilots were caught drinking heavily, delaying flights in the last two months.

A unit of Skymark Airlines Inc., which was rocked by a similar case, was searched Tuesday by officers from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

JAL and ANA have already been searched by the transport ministry, in November.

The inspection comes after a Skymark flight was delayed on Nov. 14 when alcohol was detected on the breath of its American pilot.

On Nov. 22, Skymark submitted a report to the transport ministry on measures to prevent reoccurrences, including training all staff on alcohol detection.


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