Airline Pilots Report High Rates of Anxiety, Alcohol Misuse

French survey finds more than one-third meet the standard for ‘risky alcohol use.’

Zach Vasile

Wednesday, June 04, 2025 at 07:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Pilots in a cockpit. [Adobe Stock]

Key Takeaways:

A survey of French airline pilots revealed high rates of mental health challenges, with 40% misusing alcohol, 25% experiencing anxiety, and 13% reporting depressive symptoms, exacerbated by socioeconomic stress and frequent same-day trips.
A significant barrier to pilots seeking psychological help is the fear of losing their license (28% expressed this), though 54% would report issues if career repercussions were removed.
The study underscores the urgent need for preventative mental health programs and support systems that allow pilots to address psychological problems without immediate risk to their employment.

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A recent survey of airline pilots in France turned up high rates of self-described anxiety, depression, and alcohol misuse.

Researchers recruited 1,220 airline pilots from the French pilots union SNPL and had them fill out a questionnaire focusing on their mental health and well-being. The results, published in Frontiers in Public Health in May, showed more than one-third of the pilots (40 percent) misused alcohol in the last year, though less than 1 percent described themselves as dependent.