Pilots indicted after US investigation in California

Airline Industry Information, July 19, 2005

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2005 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Federal officials in the USA have said that 40 pilots in California have been indicted for fraud after hiding medical conditions that would have grounded them.

Grand juries across the state have reportedly indicted the pilots for falsifying medical records, hiding conditions such as schizophrenia and severe heart problems.

According to Reuters, the pilots collected disability payments for medical and psychological conditions that were severe enough to disqualify a person from operating an aircraft, while still claiming to be fit enough to fly. Some pilots had also failed to report previous criminal convictions. The action taken is reportedly the result of an 18-month probe of 40,000 licensed pilots in California. The investigation was carried out by federal transportation officials, the Social Security Administration and the US Attorney's office.

There were apparently a number of commercial pilots and airline transport pilots among the pilots indicted, but no details have been disclosed.

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