FAA Suspects Nearly 5,000 Pilots Concealing Medical Issues to Keep Flying

The agency is investigating some 4,800 former military pilots who now fly for Part 121 passenger and air cargo operators, among others.

Jack Daleo

Monday, August 28, 2023 at 04:40 PM ET

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Some 4,800 former military pilots are under scrutiny for alleged falsehoods in their FAA medical records. [Courtesy: Pexels]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA is investigating nearly 5,000 former military civilian pilots for allegedly providing false or incomplete medical information on their applications, often involving conditions for which they receive VA disability benefits.
This probe, stemming from a VA cross-check of disability records with FAA pilot data, has led to some pilot suspensions but also raised concerns about FAA transparency and the systemic flaws in its medical certification process.
Pilot associations and critics argue that the FAA's complex and restrictive medical examination requirements, particularly concerning mental health, incentivize pilots to conceal conditions. They advocate for clearer communication, amnesty for veterans, and better support to encourage honest reporting.

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Nearly 5,000 civilian pilots may be providing false information—or excluding it—during their medical examinations in order to continue flying, according to the FAA.

The agency is investigating some 4,800 former military pilots, who told it they were healthy enough to fly but “might have submitted incorrect or false information about certain medical conditions that qualify for Veterans Administration benefits as part of their most recent FAA medical application.”