SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Grand juries across California have indicted 40 pilots for fraud after they falsified medical records to hide disabilities like schizophrenia and severe heart problems that would have grounded them, federal officials said on Monday..
The pilots claimed to be fit to fly airplanes but collected disability payments for medical and psychological conditions that would have disqualified them from operating an aircraft, according to a statement by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California. Other pilots failed to report they had prior criminal convictions, the statement said.
Authorities said they found pilots who continued to fly even though they had disabilities including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, drug and alcohol addiction, disabling back pain and severe heart conditions.
The FAA has revoked 14 of the pilots' licenses and medical certificates, the other 26 pilots may be suspended.
6 comments:
first thought: ooh, man, I knew it! this is so scary
second thought (from yrs truly the conspiracy theorist): maybe this was cooked up by some group trying to ground the airline industry (maybe a passenger train company)or manic joggers
third thought (way serious): it is a sad sign of the times that people can be so frightened of losing their jobs, that prospect being justifiably so devastating, that they would resort to this
whatever the reason, it's still scary!!!! Eee... thanks for not helping my fear of flying.. ;-)
I know, mine too.
I am a flight attendant for a charter airline. And I will say that a huge percentage of flight crew (both pilots and FA's) drink too damn much. We are gone for days (weeks in my case) and find ourselves hanging out socially in bars all over the world. But although this is often true 99% of us NEVER drink and fly. We have very strict standards and we stick to them. And on a side note. Many of those medical problems are caused by flying. We are exposed to a ton of radiation while at high altitudes and our backs are ruined. I have been in physical therapy and out on workmans comp because of back injuries sustained while flying. Like any industry you have some unsafe jerks, but for the most part we are fun, travel addicted people trying to make a living out of what we love.
P.S. I agree with Naomi. It's deffinitely a conspiracy cooked up by the manic joggers. Damn them!
Wow!
Thanks for your insight and thanks for dropping by :)
your story is a grey area for me. Just becuz someone is mental doesnt mean they are disqualified to fly a plane, but then again i dont believe in psycho meds either. First class please
Post a Comment