Thousands of pilots suspected of 'falsifying their medical records' to receive clearance to fly: report

Thousands of pilots are being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration for "falsifying their medical records to conceal that they were receiving benefits for mental health disorders and other serious conditions that could make them unfit to fly," The Washington Post's Lisa Rein and Craig Whitlock exclusively report.

The FAA suspects that the individuals, many of whom are retired military veterans, "failed to report — as required by law — that they were also collecting veterans benefits for disabilities that could bar them from the cockpit. Veterans Affairs investigators discovered the inconsistencies more than two years ago by cross-checking federal databases, but the FAA has kept many details of the case a secret from the public," the Post explains.

"FAA spokesman Matthew Lehner acknowledged in a statement that the agency has been investigating approximately 4,800 pilots 'who might have submitted incorrect or false information as part of their medical applications,'" the correspondents say. "The FAA has now closed about half of those cases, he said, and has ordered about 60 pilots — who Lehner said 'posed a clear danger to aviation safety' — to cease flying on an emergency basis while their records are reviewed.'"

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Rein and Whitlock continue, "About 600 of the pilots under investigation are licensed to fly for passenger airlines, according to a senior U.S. official familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing case. Most of the rest hold commercial licenses that allow them to fly for hire, including with cargo firms, corporate clients or tour companies."

They add that the FAA has a "cursory" system that allows pilots to "self-report conditions that can otherwise be difficult to detect, such as depression or post-traumatic stress, according to physicians who conduct the exams." The Post finds that "many veterans minimize their ailments to the FAA so they can keep flying but exaggerate them to VA to maximize their disability payments, physicians and former officials at the aviation agency say."

Colorado Springs aviation medical examiner Jerome Limoge told the Post that "there are people out there who I think are trying to play both sides of the game," and that "they're being encouraged by VA to claim everything. Some of it is almost stolen valor."

The Post notes, "Federal contracting records obtained by The Washington Post show the FAA's Office of Aerospace Medicine allotted $3.6 million starting last year to hire medical experts and other staff to reexamine certification records for 5,000 pilots who pose 'potential risks to the flying public.'"

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View Rein's and Whitlock's full report at this link (subscription required).