JOHN HOYTE, AIRLINE PILOT AND VICTIM OF TOXIC CABIN AIR EXPOSURE

Jets have a design flaw--the cabin air comes from the engine area and it is neither monitored nor filtered. Toxic oils from the engine are inhaled by the people on board.

It affects all who fly, usually from repeated exposures, but also sometimes from a single “oil fume event.” This circumstance happens in every plane, every day, at the time it is put into operation. It is also related to wear and maintenance status. Pilots and crew are the people who are most likely harmed, but passengers can be impacted as well.

The newest jet, the Boeing 787, is a new design and the only exception. These have air intakes that are far away from the engines. The 787s are about five percent of the fleet currently in use.