Pilots who hide their mental health issues to continue flying are more likely to be successful.

Annie Vargas saw her son slip away and begged him to get help. Her son Brian Wittke (a 41-year old Delta Air Lines Pilot and father of three) resisted, fearing that seeking treatment for depression could cost him his license.

Vargas said that the drop in air travel caused by the pandemic affected Wittke's mental health.

Vargas sent Wittke a text message on the morning of 14 June 2022. However, his location information was not available. When the text reappeared in 2022, Wittke was dead by suicide near his home in the Utah Mountains outside Salt Lake City.

Interviews with over 30 commercial airline pilots, industry officials and medical experts, along with a review medical studies, revealed that many pilots hide mental health issues for fear of losing their license if they disclose therapy, medication or seek help. This puts themselves and their passengers in danger.

In order to write this article, I spoke with at least 24 commercial airline pilots from the U.S. as well as foreign carriers. They said they were reluctant about disclosing mental health problems, even if minor or treatable, for fear of immediate grounding, and a costly, lengthy medical review which could lead to their career ending.

Pilots cited a variety of reasons why they did not come forward about mental health issues, including airline policy, regulatory requirements, and social stigma.

REAL PEOPLE REAL PROBLEMS

Vargas stated that "real people have real problems." "They shouldn't be punished for dealing with their problems."

Vargas told the reporter that she spoke to the media because she wanted the tragedy of the family to challenge the mental health culture in the aviation industry. Details of Vargas' account were confirmed by Wittke’s wife.

Delta described Wittke as a valuable team member, and referred to his death as "tragic and heartbreaking". The pilot community is stigmatized against seeking mental healthcare, according to the report. Delta, like many other major U.S. carriers offers confidential peer-support programs and counseling for its staff. Delta recently launched an employee assistance program for its pilots. It offers access to coaching and therapy, and takes into consideration medical certification requirements.

The airline stated that it would continue to strive to provide additional solutions.

In many industries, employees or regulators such as the Federal Aviation Administration do not need to be involved in seeking medical or psychological care.

Pilots are subject to stricter standards in aviation. They must maintain their FAA medical certificate by meeting rigorous physical and mental criteria. In some cases, they may be required to undergo medical examinations every six months. Pilots who have anxiety or depression could be grounded. Mild cases can be resolved quickly. Severe conditions, however, require an FAA review which can take up to one year.

In a press release, the FAA stated that it was committed to prioritizing mental health for pilots. It is constantly updating its approach in line with the latest medical research.

Interviews reveal that stigma and the fear of being grounded remain a major obstacle to addressing mental health in pilots.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has increased the oversight of medical examiners. It also requires that airlines offer pilots peer support programs.

The FAA in the United States has expanded its list of antidepressants approved for mental health conditions. The FAA has created a path for pilots to disclose an ADHD diagnosis. Airlines and pilot unions expanded confidential peer-support programs.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Australia allows pilots who suffer from depression or anxiety to maintain their medical certification if they manage safety risks. This is done on a case by case basis, even while they are receiving treatment. Kate Manderson said that her team usually completes certification reviews within 20 days.

The gap between perception and policy is still wide. A 2023 study of 5 170 U.S. pilots and Canadians found that more than half avoided healthcare due to concerns of losing their flying status. A morbid pilot saying captures the feeling: "If you're not lying, you're not flying." Pilot unions, industry groups and advocacy groups are calling on the FAA adopt the recommendations made by its Aviation Rulemaking Committee. These recommendations will protect pilots who report issues and expedite their return to duty. The U.S. House of Representatives voted in September to require that the FAA implement these changes within two year.

WAITING TO be cleared to fly

Elizabeth Carll is a 36-year-old commercial airline pilot in the United States. She believes that reforms are needed now. She was grounded in 2021 during her training as a pilot after she revealed she was taking a low dosage of anti-anxiety medicine. She waited for six months to get an appointment with a mental health specialist approved by the FAA after a six-month mandatory waiting period. After spending more than a full year reviewing the report, the regulator decided that it was outdated and ordered a new examination.

Carll did not experience financial hardship while she was in training as a flight attendant, but any change to her medication could result in the same long and costly process.

"The joke is that you ignore it and pretend that it doesn't occur because people are scared of losing their livelihood." A spokesperson for the FAA said that it is updating its mental-health policies and has approved more medication. When asked about Carll's situation, the spokesperson declined to comment and refused to disclose how long it usually takes for medical reports of pilots who are undergoing mental health treatment.

The FAA spokesperson stated that "we encourage pilots to seek early help if they are suffering from a mental health condition, since the majority of these conditions, when treated, will not prevent a pilot's ability to fly." In June, the safety of pilots was brought to light when Air India Flight 171 crashed shortly after takeoff and killed 260 people. In a preliminary report, it was found that both fuel shutoff switches were manually operated. This ruled out mechanical failure. The final report will be released in a few months.

The Indian government reported that Air India had a slight rise in sick leave among all its fleets after the crash. The airline directed pilots to an app that promotes mental health.

Air India did not provide a comment. Former Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph David Emerson, who was riding off-duty in the cockpit in 2023 when he tried to shut down a passenger aircraft's engines in November of that year, received a sentence for time served as well as three years probation. In court documents, Emerson admitted to police that he had a nervous break down and was on psychedelic mushroom therapy.

He refused to be interviewed by this article.

"A BETTER PIPET TODAY"

The financial impact of a pilot being grounded due to a medical concern can be severe. After using their sick leave, pilots are often put on disability which can drastically reduce their income. Troy Merritt is a 33-year old U.S. commercial pilot who voluntarily grounded himself on December 20, 2022, and began taking medication when he realized that depression and anxiety were affecting his ability to safely fly.

To get back into the cockpit, he had to take stable medication for six months and undergo a series psychological and cognitive testing -- some of which was not covered by his health insurance. The process, he said, cost him around $11,000.

This figure could not be independently confirmed.

Merritt had been grounded 18 months before he was able to return to flying. He lived off disability insurance. He said that pilots shouldn't have to wait for six months before reapplying for a medical certification if they responded well to treatment. The FAA should also review such applications in 30 days.

Avoiding mental health care opens the door for pilots to avoid taking care of themselves. Merritt, speaking from his home near the Los Angeles International Airport, said that this is when cockpit problems can occur. Merritt said that he is living proof of the benefits that mental health treatment can have on pilots. He spoke under the condition that his employer not be identified.

After his recovery, he began to train to fly in larger aircraft to destinations such as Shanghai and Hong Kong - long-haul flights that he had previously found intimidating.

He said, "I am a better pilot than I used to be." Reporting by Rajesh K. Singh in Salt Lake City, Chicago, Dan Catchpole, Erica Stapleton, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Joe Brock, Los Angeles. Doyinsola Oladipo, Lisa Barrington, Aditya Kahra, Abhijith Ganapavaram, and Suzanne Goldenberg contributed additional reporting from New York City and Seoul.

(source: Reuters)