TOKYO (AP) — Japan Airlines Co. apologized Thursday after one of its co-pilots was arrested in London for failing an alcohol test before departing on a London-Tokyo flight.

JAL said the co-pilot was arrested Sunday for violating British aviation law.

The driver of a crew bus at Heathrow Airport smelled alcohol on the co-pilot and reported it to police, Japan's NHK public television said.

British authorities notified JAL that breath and blood tests on the co-pilot found alcohol levels far exceeding the legal limit, the airline said.

JAL withheld the co-pilot's identify, but London's Metropolitan Police identified him as 42-year-old Katsutoshi Jitsukawa. He was charged with performing an aviation function with alcohol in his blood over the legal limit.

The co-pilot acknowledged he drank about two bottles of wine and a pitcher of beer the previous night, NHK said.

JAL said the flight was delayed more than one hour and had to be operated by the remaining two pilots.

The incident comes a day after another major Japanese airline, All Nippon Airways, apologized for causing delays to five flights after a pilot became unwell due to heavy drinking the night before.