Flight Crew Face Highest Radiation Cancer Risk: Study

Cabin crew at greater risk of radiation‑based cancer than nuclear technologists, new study suggests

What jobs are most associated with deaths from radiation-related cancer? Surprisingly, the answer is cabin crew and pilots—ahead of nuclear technologists, whose work involves handling radioactive materials used in medical imaging and treatment.

Flight crew face highest radiation cancer risk: study

A new study has found that flight attendants and pilots face the highest risk of dying from radiation-related cancers among more than 500 occupations studied in the United States, surpassing even workers who handle radioactive materials directly.  The findings were published August 17, 2026, in JAMA Internal Medicine. The research, led by Dr. Vishal Patel of Harvard Medical School, analyzed more than 12 million US death certificates from 2020 to…

Cabin crew at greater risk of radiation-based cancer than nuclear technologists, new study suggests

photobyphotoboy/Shutterstock.comWhat jobs are most associated with deaths from radiation-related cancer? Surprisingly, the answer is cabin crew and pilots – ahead of nuclear technologists, whose work involves handling radioactive materials used in medical imaging and treatment. That’s the finding of a new study that analysed more than 12.7 million death records from 2020 to 2024, covering more than 500 occupations. The researchers ranked the occ…

Do pilots and cabin crew face a higher cancer risk because of flying?

A new JAMA Internal Medicine study has renewed focus on cancer deaths among pilots and flight attendants. It points to a possible occupational risk from long-term exposure while stopping short of proving direct causation.

Flight Attendants and Pilots Top All 503 US Occupations in Share of Deaths from Radiation-Linked Cancers

A JAMA Internal Medicine analysis of 12.7 million death certificates ranked aircrew above nuclear technologists for radiation-related cancer deaths.