Aircraft-Assisted Pilot Suicides in the United States, 2003-2012

Flying continues to be the safest mode of transportation in the United States (ICAO Safety Report 2014 Edition). This can be attributed to safety oversight, aircraft maintenance, and the aviation medicine certification processes. Pilots have a special relationship with flight, and the aircraft is often felt as a simple extension of the pilot. With such a relationship, the mental well-being of a pilot is paramount to his/her flight safety. During times of excessive stress, pilots predisposed to self-destructive behaviors may display these behaviors during flight. 

Aircraft-assisted suicides are tragic, intentional events that are hard to predict and difficult to prevent. Factors involved in aircraft-assisted suicide may be depression, social relationships, and financial difficulties, just to name a few. Suicide attempts almost always result in pilot fatality; they also have the unfortunate potential to cause collateral damage to property and life. Our laboratory has long been interested in epidemiological and toxicological findings from aircraft-assisted pilot suicides. This study is a 10-year review (2003-2012) of aircraft-assisted pilot suicides and is a follow up to our previous (1993-2002) aircraft-assisted pilot suicide review. Read more>>>>>>>>>>>>>>