The US authorities are investigating nearly 5,000 pilots who are suspected of concealing information that they received benefits in connection with mental disorders and other serious illnesses, writes The Washington Post, citing audit materials.
Under scrutiny are pilots who are veterans of the armed forces. They reported to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that they were healthy enough to fly, but did not report, as required by law, that they received veterans’ benefits for a disability that could prevent them from being allowed to fly.
The discrepancy between the presented data and the real state of affairs was revealed when cross-checking federal databases more than two years ago, but the FAA kept many details secret, the newspaper writes. At the same time, agency spokesman Matthew Lehner acknowledged that approximately 4,800 pilots were being investigated “who may have provided incorrect or false information.”
About 60 pilots have been ordered to stop flying until their medical records are checked, Lehner said.
About 600 of the pilots under investigation are licensed to fly passenger airline aircraft, a senior US official told the publication. Most of the rest have commercial licenses that allow them to carry people and cargo, but do not entitle them to be pilots on passenger airlines.
Source: Rosbalt
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
