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 significant mental health challenges, with 40% reporting alcohol misuse, 25% experiencing anxiety, and 13% exhibiting depressive symptoms.
Factors like socioeconomic stress and frequent multi-trip days contributed to these issues, and a major barrier to seeking help was pilots' fear of losing their license, with 28% unwilling to report problems.
The research underscores the necessity for preventative mental health programs and systems that allow pilots to address psychological problems without risking their careers.

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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.