Press Release

Tokyo, JAPAN - Japan Airlines (JAL) has been awarded this year's Richard Crane Award by the Flight Safety Foundation (FSF).
This award is nominated by members of the FSF, an organization with a long history and high authority in the field of aviation safety. This year, JAL's long-term commitment to safety, particularly the continuous safety promotion and the operation of the Safety Promotion Center since the JAL123 accident in 1985, was highly evaluated, leading to numerous nominations and the eventual award.

(Left) Munekazu Tachibana, Managing Executive Officer and Senior VP of Corporate Safety and Security, Japan Airlines, and
(Right) Dr. Hassan Shahidi, President and CEO, Flight Safety Foundation.

Flight Safety Foundation, established in 1945, is an independent, nonprofit, international organization engaged in research, education, advocacy and communications to improve aviation safety. The Foundation’s mission is to connect, influence and lead global aviation safety.

The Richard Crane Award, named after Richard Crane, one of the founders of Flight Safety Foundation, was an entrepreneur and visionary whose critical leadership role in the early days of FSF helped establish it as the preeminent global aviation safety advocacy organization. The Richard Crane Award recognizes an organization for its sustained corporate leadership through lasting contributions in the field of civil aviation. Industry, government, and non-government organizations qualify for nomination. This is the third time an airline has been honored.

“The Foundation is proud to honor Japan Airlines for its outstanding commitment to safety and organizational learning.” said Dr. Hassan Shahidi, president and CEO, Flight Safety Foundation. “In the past few decades, JAL has transformed its approach to safety, creating a robust and enduring safety culture."

Mitsuko Tottori, President, and Group CEO of Japan Airlines stated, “It is an honor to receive the prestigious Richard Crane Award. Since its founding in 1951, JAL Group has cultivated a safety culture over its 70-year history. Lessons from past accidents, including the 1985 JAL123 accident, have been continuously studied, with top management leading the way.
Safety is a core value and the very purpose of the airline itself. All employees are committed to keeping our valued customers safe at all times . Ensuring safety requires not only the consistent efforts of the airline but also cooperation with all stakeholders, including customers, to maintain and enhance safety standards.”

From a video message shown at the Award Ceremony

【JAL's Initiatives towards safety】
JAL conducts necessary education and training according to each employee's role and position to acquire the skills, knowledge, and abilities required for safety-related tasks. Additionally, necessary safety-related information is disseminated, and regular safety awareness activities are conducted.

Specifically, based on the "Three Actuals Principle" advocated by Safety Advisory Group's Yotaro Hatamura, which involves going to the actual place (accident site), seeing the actual objects (parts of remaining aircraft, personal belongings of the victims, etc.), and listening to stories of the actual people (those experienced the situation), JAL conducts activities to understand the essence of safety. This includes memorial climbs to the Osutaka Ridge, facing the remaining aircraft at the Safety Promotion Center, and listening to the stories of those directly involved in the accident, thereby reaffirming the importance of safety in the minds of JAL Group employees. Through these activities, all employees engrave in their hearts the weight of their work, which involves safeguarding the precious lives and property of customers, and pledge their commitment to safety.

With gratitude for receiving this prestigious award, all employees will unite to achieve even greater aviation safety for customers and society.