The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating almost 5,000 pilots who allegedly hid medical issues that may have affected their ability to fly.
Some 4,800 pilots allegedly downplayed their medical conditions during regular required screenings. All of the pilots were military veterans who also allegedly exaggerated their conditions to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to obtain higher disability checks, The Washington Post reported.
Pilots are required to pass regular health exams administered by government-contracted physicians. Such exams often rely on the pilots to disclose all their health issues, specifically those that may be hard to uncover by the physicians conducting the exam.
The VA reportedly discovered the inconsistent disclosures about two years ago and has been conducting investigations since then. During that time, roughly half of the cases have been closed, as reported by The Washington Post.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and VA began to cross-check the list of former military pilots receiving disability benefits with those currently flying.
Jerome Limoge, an aviation medical examiner who has performed hundreds of tests, said he believes many pilots are trying to play both sides.
“They’re being encouraged by VA to claim everything. Some of it is almost stolen valor,” claimed Limoge, per The Washington Post.
Of the pilots being investigated, about 600 are licensed to fly for passenger airlines. In contrast, most of those remaining are licensed commercially, allowing them to fly for other firms without carrying passengers.
Matthew Lehner, a spokesperson for the FAA, said that roughly 60 of the pilots under investigation “posed a clear danger to aviation safety” and have been grounded until the investigation is complete, according to The Washington Post.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, the number of air travel safety issues in the United States has been increasing, with reports of spikes in close-call incidents amid serious staffing shortages. Air traffic controllers, pilots, and mechanics have been in short supply since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although 60 pilots were grounded due to the FAA’s investigations, Lehner claimed that “the vast majority of these pilots may continue to operate safely while we complete the reconciliation process.”
Those diagnosed with mental conditions, such as depression or anxiety, are not automatically disqualified from flying.
Some involved in the closed cases were told to retake the medical exam and were able to continue working once cleared.
In defense of the pilots under investigation, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association told The Washington Post that the examination sometimes asks broad questions that are hard to answer. As a result, pilots often make mistakes while completing the required documents.
The VA Office of Inspector General is also reviewing the cases to determine if any should be referred to the Justice Department for potential benefits fraud charges, per The Washington Post.
