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Airline Pilots Must Not Dismiss Mental Well-Being

Is the profession experiencing a new threat?

The FAA could require AMEs to administer some form of a more detailed mental health test for airline pilots. [Adobe Stock]
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Key Takeaways:

  • A recent incident where an authorized jumpseat pilot attempted to disable an aircraft due to severe mental health issues (including drug use, sleep deprivation, and depression) highlighted ongoing vulnerabilities in aviation safety.
  • This event, alongside past tragedies like the GermanWings deliberate crash and a FedEx pilot's attempted murder-suicide, underscores the critical need to address pilot mental health and current medical certification protocols.
  • Pilots often face significant barriers, including professional stigma and fear of jeopardizing their careers, which deter them from disclosing or seeking treatment for mental health struggles.
  • The article advocates for enhanced pilot education on mental health, fostering peer-to-peer support programs, and improving the ability of colleagues to recognize signs of distress as key solutions.
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On October 23, 2023, Horizon Air Flight 2059, departing from Everett, Washington, en route to San Francisco, diverted to Portland, Oregon, because of a bizarre and alarming in-flight emergency. An authorized jumpseat rider, Alaska Airlines captain Joseph Emerson, had reached up to the overhead panel in an attempt to pull both of the Embraer 175’s fire handles. Among other functions, activation of the handles would have resulted in the fuel being cut off from the engines.

The Horizon Air pilots’ immediate response to Emerson’s shocking act averted a serious emergency situation. They are to be commended. Conducting a dual engine failure checklist for real is not a walk in the park.

Les Abend

Les Abend is a retired, 34-year veteran of American Airlines, attempting to readjust his passion for flying airplanes in the lower flight levels—without the assistance of a copilot.

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