Aircraft Fume Exposure

Air in an airliner cabin does not come from an open window. It comes from the aircraft's own air system. On many aircraft, the fresh air supplied to the cabin is taken from the engines. Most of the time that air is clean. Sometimes, though, smoke, fumes, a haze or an unusual odor can enter the cabin. People call this a fume event.

Aircraft Fume Exposure: An Overview

Inside the engine, a compressor squeezes outside air. Some of that compressed air is drawn off and sent to the cabin. This is called bleed air.2 The air is cooled and conditioned, then mixed with cabin air that has been filtered and recirculated.2

Problems can arise when engine oil, hydraulic fluid or deicing fluid gets into the air supply by mistake.1 Heated fluids can release many compounds. But a 2002 National Research Council report found that there was no exposure data showing exactly what was in cabin air during these incidents.1

Not every odor on a plane is dangerous. Food, cleaning products, fuel smells on the ground and many other things can cause smells. Finding out what happened on a specific flight takes evidence about that flight and that aircraft.

Federal rules require cabin air to be free of harmful or hazardous levels of gases and vapors.4 Airlines must also report certain events in which an aircraft part causes smoke, vapor, or toxic or noxious fumes in the cabin or cockpit during flight.5

Exposed to Fumes on a Flight? Preserve the Evidence

Aircraft evidence can be hard for a passenger to find and keep. A plane can go back into service within hours. Parts can be repaired or replaced, and the records may sit with several different companies.

Start by saving what you already have:

• Boarding pass and flight confirmation
• Airline, flight number and date
• Departure and arrival airports
• Your seat number
• When the fumes or odor started
• Photos, videos and texts from the flight
• Notes you made soon afterward
• Names of witnesses and crew, if known
• Medical and emergency records
• Any messages with the airline

Tell us about the flight.

Tell Us Your Story → (800) 476-2416

What Is an Aircraft Fume Event?

A fume event is a term used in aviation for an incident in which smoke, fumes, a haze or an unusual smell enters the cabin or cockpit. Many cabin crews and passengers have reported incidents of smoke or odors in the cabin.1

How cabin air works

• Engines compress outside air. Some of it is drawn off as bleed air.2
• The air is cooled and conditioned, then sent into the cabin.
• Part of the cabin air is pulled out, passed through filters and mixed back in.2
• Cabin pressure is controlled by outflow valves that let air leave the plane.2

The auxiliary power unit (APU)

The APU is a small turbine engine, usually in the tail. It makes electric power and can supply compressed air to the plane, often while the aircraft is on the ground. The National Research Council noted that the air from the APU is unfiltered.2 That is one reason a fume event can happen at the gate or while taxiing, not only in flight.

Smoke versus an odor

A fume event does not always involve visible smoke. Some people report a haze or mist. Others report only a smell, or eye and throat irritation with nothing to see. What was actually in the air on a given flight has to be shown with evidence from that event.

For a longer explanation, read What Is an Aircraft Fume Event? Understanding Bleed Air and Cabin Air Contamination.

What Can Cause Fumes Inside an Aircraft?

Possible sources that have been described include:

• Engine lubricating oil entering the bleed-air supply1
• Hydraulic fluid12
• Deicing fluid12
• Spilled fuel2
• Contamination from the APU2
• Mechanical failures or wear
• Maintenance problems
• Electrical problems that cause smoke or burning smells
• Exhaust or fumes from the ground, such as at a busy gate

Knowing that these sources exist does not show which one, if any, caused a particular event. That usually takes the aircraft's maintenance records, crew reports and other records about that specific plane and flight.

What Does an Aircraft Fume Event Smell or Look Like?

People describe fume events in many ways. Reports include:

• An unusual odor
• A burning smell
• An oily smell
• A chemical smell
• A haze or mist in the cabin
• Visible smoke
• Eye, nose or throat irritation with nothing visible

How something smells is personal, and different people may describe the same smell differently. A smell alone cannot identify a chemical. Identifying a contaminant generally takes more evidence, and as the National Research Council noted, measured exposure data from actual incidents has been very limited.1

Symptoms Reported After Aircraft Fume Exposure

Symptoms people have described after fume events include:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Eye irritation
• Nose or throat irritation
• Coughing
• Trouble breathing
• Fatigue
• Trouble concentrating
• Confusion
• Other neurological complaints
• Other breathing problems

These symptoms are common and have many possible causes. The National Research Council described the health complaints of crews and passengers as broad and nonspecific.3 It also noted that other parts of the cabin environment, such as low humidity and lower oxygen levels at altitude, can cause symptoms like headache, dizziness and fatigue in some people.3

Researchers have examined whether exposure to contaminated cabin air may be linked to health problems. In 2002, the National Research Council found that no data had definitively linked exposure to these compounds with the health effects people reported, and that establishing a causal link is extremely difficult.1 Reported symptoms are not the same as proof that fumes caused them.

If you have serious or lasting symptoms after a flight, see a doctor or other qualified health professional. In an emergency, call 911.

What Is Aerotoxic Syndrome?

Aerotoxic syndrome is a term some researchers, crew members and advocates use for a group of symptoms that some people link to breathing contaminated cabin air. It is not a universally accepted medical diagnosis, and doctors and scientists continue to debate it.

Much of the debate focuses on organophosphate compounds, such as tricresyl phosphate (TCP), found in some engine oils. Large amounts of these compounds can harm the nervous system when swallowed.3 The National Research Council said it could not find objective information documenting nerve damage in people exposed to oil mists and fumes on aircraft. It also said that possibility cannot be ruled out if exposures were high enough and long enough.3

Open questions include how much exposure occurs during real events, how any harm might happen, whether there are long-term effects, and how a diagnosis should be defined. The National Research Council called for measuring these compounds in cabins and for more research.3

Aircraft Fume Exposure Among Flight Attendants and Pilots

Crew members' situations are often different from passengers'. A pilot or flight attendant may report more than one event over a career, on different aircraft and different routes. Crew members also usually have more access to information about what happened and to the airline's reporting systems.

For crew, records that may matter include:

• Their own incident or safety reports
• Flight schedules and logbooks
• Which aircraft they worked on, by registration number
• Dates and routes of each event
• Medical records from each event
• Workplace injury reports

Whether repeated exposures add up to greater harm is not settled by the research we have reviewed, and this page does not claim that they do. The National Research Council said that a proper risk assessment would need measurements of airborne levels in cabins.3

For airline employees, workplace injury laws, such as workers' compensation, may apply and can affect what other claims are possible. The rules depend on the job, the employer and the state or country.

Passengers Exposed to Fumes During a Flight

A passenger usually knows far less about what happened than the crew does. You may only know:

• The airline
• The flight number
• The date
• Where the flight left from
• Where it was going
• About when the fumes or odor started
• Where you were sitting
• What you smelled or saw
• What the crew announced
• Whether the plane diverted or went back to the gate
• What symptoms you had
• Whether paramedics met the flight

Those facts may seem small, but they can help identify the flight and the actual aircraft. That helps attorneys find out whether records about the event may exist.

Why the tail number matters

A flight number names a scheduled trip, not a particular plane. An airline can use different aircraft for the same flight number on different days. The aircraft's registration number, often called the tail number, identifies the physical plane. In the U.S., registration numbers start with N, and the FAA lets anyone look one up.9

What to Save After an Aircraft Fume Event

Save the information you already have. Do not try to get confidential airline records yourself. Identifying the flight and aircraft helps attorneys look into whether relevant records exist.

The Flight

• Boarding pass
• Flight confirmation and itinerary
• Airline and flight number
• Date and departure time
• Departure and arrival airports
• Seat number
• Tail number, if you saw it

What You Saw and Wrote

• Photos
• Videos
• Texts sent during or after
• Emails about the flight
• Notes made soon afterward
• When the fumes began and ended
• News coverage of the event

Your Health and Costs

• Medical records
• Emergency room records
• Ambulance records
• A log of symptoms over time
• Receipts for costs
• Records of missed work
• Prescription records

People and the Airline

• Names of witnesses
• Witness contact details
• Crew names, if known
• Messages with the airline
• Airline complaint numbers
• Any airline response
• Other passengers who felt ill

After a fume event: a simple timeline

1. Fume event

   Smoke, fumes, haze or an unusual odor enters the cabin.

2. Document the flight

   Save your boarding pass, flight number, date, seat and the tail number if you saw it.

3. Document symptoms

   Write down what you felt, when it started and whether it got better.

4. Preserve photos, videos and messages

   Keep what you recorded or sent during and after the flight.

5. Seek medical care when appropriate

   Tell the provider the facts of what happened.

6. Preserve airline communications

   Save emails, complaint numbers and any responses.

7. Legal investigation

   An attorney can look into what records may exist and who may be involved.

Records that may exist after a fume event

Depending on what happened, an investigation may look for records such as:

• Aircraft maintenance records
• Maintenance log entries
• Pilot reports
• Cabin crew reports
• Airline incident reports
• Aircraft discrepancy reports
• Service Difficulty Reports, where required5
• Records of parts that were replaced
• Engine or APU maintenance information
• FAA records
• Airport emergency-response records
• Air traffic information, where relevant

Whether any of these records exist, and whether they can be obtained, depends on the circumstances. Our guide to what passengers and crew should document covers this step by step.

FAA Rules, Reporting and Cabin Air Research

Several federal rules and reports apply to cabin air:

• Design rules for airliners require cabin and cockpit air to be free of harmful or hazardous levels of gases or vapors, and set limits for carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.4
• Airlines operating under Part 121 must file a Service Difficulty Report when an aircraft part causes smoke, vapor, or toxic or noxious fumes in the cockpit or cabin during flight. Reports are due within 96 hours.5
• In 2002, the National Research Council reviewed cabin air for Congress and recommended more monitoring, a surveillance program and research on engine oil and hydraulic fluid.1
• In 2004, the Government Accountability Office found that more research was needed on cabin air and health, and recommended steps for the FAA's research planning.6

These reporting rules cover specific situations. Not every odor or event must be reported, and a report does not by itself show that anyone was harmed. Anyone can report a safety concern to the FAA through its safety hotline.10 Our article on federal research into cabin air explains what is known and what remains uncertain.

Who Could Be Responsible for an Aircraft Fume Exposure?

Who, if anyone, may be responsible depends on why the event happened. Depending on the evidence, the companies involved may include:

• The airline
• The aircraft manufacturer
• The engine manufacturer
• Makers of parts, such as seals or air-system parts
• Maintenance companies
• Contractors
• Others responsible for inspection, repair or operation

None of these parties is responsible in every case. Finding out may require looking at the aircraft, its maintenance and parts history, incident reports and other evidence.

Aircraft Fume Exposure Lawsuits and Legal Claims

Claims involving cabin air contamination can raise hard factual and legal questions. Depending on the facts, issues may include:

• Negligence, such as in maintenance or operation
• Product liability for a defective aircraft part
• Failure to warn
• Claims against an airline
• Claims against a manufacturer
• Workplace injury claims for crew

Having smelled fumes or having symptoms does not by itself mean a person has a valid claim. Each situation has to be reviewed on its own facts. This page is general information, not legal advice. CBW Law also handles product liability and other personal injury matters.

Different laws and deadlines can apply

Aviation cases can involve several sets of laws. What matters may include:

• Where the flight left from
• Where it landed
• Where the event happened
• Which airline was involved
• Whether the trip was domestic or international
• Whether you were a passenger or an employee
• Who the possible defendants are
• Federal or state law
• International treaties, where they apply

For many international trips, a treaty called the Montreal Convention sets rules for an airline's liability when a passenger is injured. Under the Convention, the airline's liability for bodily injury depends on whether the injury was caused by an "accident" on board or while boarding or leaving the plane.7 Under the earlier Warsaw Convention, the U.S. Supreme Court described an accident as "an unexpected or unusual event or happening that is external to the passenger."8 Whether a fume event counts depends on the facts and how courts apply the law.

Deadlines to bring a claim vary a great deal. They can depend on the law that applies, the type of claim, who the claim is against and other facts. There is no single deadline that fits every case, and some can be short. Evidence can also fade over time.

Medical Documentation

Records made at the time can help show what you experienced and when. If you have health concerns, speak with a qualified health professional. Give them the facts, such as:

• The date of the event and how long it lasted
• What you saw, smelled or heard
• Your symptoms
• When symptoms began
• Whether symptoms got better or continued
• Whether other passengers or crew seemed affected

Let your health professional decide what to test for and what diagnosis, if any, fits. Your job is to tell them what happened as accurately as you can.

How CBW Law Approaches Aircraft Fume Exposure Cases

Aircraft fume cases are complex. They can involve technical records, several companies and laws from more than one place. Here is how we work:

Our approach

A firm that knows you by name

You talk with people who know your file, not a call center. We explain each step in plain English.

Decades in your corner

Our team has spent decades helping injured people understand their options.

Real relationships, nationwide reach

When a case needs it, we work with experienced lawyers and firms across the country who handle complex aviation and toxic exposure litigation.

Organized from day one

We use modern tools to keep evidence, records and deadlines organized, starting with the details you give us.

Contacting CBW Law does not create an attorney-client relationship, and we cannot promise to take every case. Any decision about a case comes after a review of the facts.

Plain English

Medical, Health & Insurance

Terms you may see in airline, medical or insurance paperwork after a fume event, explained simply.

Aircraft air terms

Bleed air

Compressed air drawn from an aircraft engine's compressor and used to supply the cabin and other systems.

Environmental control system (ECS)

The aircraft system that conditions, pressurizes and circulates cabin air.

Auxiliary power unit (APU)

A small turbine engine, usually in the tail, that supplies power and compressed air, often on the ground.

HEPA filter

A high-efficiency filter used on many aircraft to remove particles from recirculated cabin air.

Tricresyl phosphate (TCP)

An organophosphate compound found in some engine oils. It is often discussed in research on cabin air.

Medical and records terms

Symptom

Something a person feels or notices, such as a headache. A symptom is not a diagnosis.

Diagnosis

A health professional's conclusion about what condition a person has.

Causation

Whether something actually caused a health problem. In medicine and law, this has to be shown with evidence.

Medical records

The notes, test results and reports your health providers keep about your care.

Insurance and work terms

Workers' compensation

An insurance system that may cover medical costs and lost wages for work injuries. Rules vary by state and job.

Incident report

A written report an employer or airline makes about an event.

Explanation of benefits (EOB)

A statement from a health insurer showing what was billed and what was paid.

These definitions are general information, not medical advice.

Questions

Aircraft fume exposure questions

Short answers to common questions. Many depend on the facts of a specific flight.

What is an aircraft fume event?

It is an incident in which smoke, fumes, a haze or an unusual smell enters an aircraft's cabin or cockpit. Some events are minor and some are not. What was in the air on a given flight has to be shown with evidence.

What causes fumes in an airplane cabin?

Possible sources include engine oil, hydraulic fluid or deicing fluid getting into the air supply, the APU, electrical problems and fumes from the ground. Finding the source of a specific event usually takes aircraft records.

What is bleed air?

Bleed air is compressed air drawn from an aircraft engine's compressor. On many aircraft it supplies the cabin with outside air after it is cooled and conditioned.

Can engine oil enter an aircraft cabin?

A National Research Council report said that engine lubricating oil can unintentionally enter the cabin through the bleed-air supply. How often this happens and at what levels is not well measured.

Can hydraulic fluid contaminate cabin air?

Yes. The same report listed hydraulic fluid among the fluids that can enter the air supply by mistake.

Can a fume event occur without visible smoke?

Yes. Some events involve only an odor or irritation, with nothing visible.

What symptoms have been reported after aircraft fume events?

People have described headache, dizziness, nausea, eye, nose or throat irritation, coughing, trouble breathing, fatigue and trouble concentrating. These symptoms have many possible causes, and a report of symptoms does not prove the fumes caused them.

What is aerotoxic syndrome?

It is a term some researchers, crew members and advocates use for a group of symptoms some people link to contaminated cabin air. Its causes and definition are still debated.

Is aerotoxic syndrome medically recognized?

It is not a universally accepted medical diagnosis. Researchers continue to study health complaints after fume events, and questions remain about exposure levels, causes and long-term effects.

What should I document after an aircraft fume event?

Save your boarding pass, flight number, date, seat, photos, videos, texts and notes. Write down your symptoms and when they started. Keep medical records and any messages with the airline.

How can I find the aircraft that operated my flight?

Start with the airline, flight number, date and departure time. If you saw or photographed the tail number, save it. A legal team can use these details to look into which aircraft flew the trip.

Why does the aircraft tail number matter?

A flight number can be used by different planes on different days. The tail number identifies the physical aircraft, which can connect an event to that plane's maintenance history.

Does the FAA track aircraft fume events?

Airlines operating under Part 121 must report certain events in which an aircraft part causes smoke, vapor, or toxic or noxious fumes in the cabin or cockpit during flight. Not every odor must be reported.

Are pilots and flight attendants exposed to aircraft fumes?

Crew members can be on board during fume events, and some report more than one over a career. Whether repeated exposures cause greater harm is not settled.

Can passengers bring claims after an aircraft fume event?

Sometimes, depending on what happened, the injuries, the evidence and the law that applies. Having been exposed to fumes does not by itself mean a claim exists.

Who could potentially be responsible?

Depending on the cause, an airline, a manufacturer, a parts maker or a maintenance company could be involved. No party is responsible in every case.

What records might exist after a fume event?

Possible records include maintenance logs, crew and pilot reports, incident reports, Service Difficulty Reports and records of replaced parts. Whether they exist depends on the event.

How long do I have to bring an aircraft fume exposure claim?

It depends on the law that applies, the type of claim, who it is against and other facts. Some deadlines are short, so it helps to act early.

Do different rules apply to international flights?

Often, yes. For many international trips, the Montreal Convention sets rules for an airline's liability for passenger injuries, including whether an "accident" caused the injury.

Were You on a Flight Where Fumes, Smoke, or an Unusual Odor Entered the Cabin?

Tell us what happened. Our team can review information about the flight, the exposure, your symptoms and the records that may need to be preserved.

Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship, and we cannot promise to take every case.

Tell Us Your Story →

This page is general information about aircraft fume events and how claims may work. It is not legal or medical advice, and it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Research on cabin air and health is ongoing, and this page does not claim that any symptom or illness was caused by aircraft fumes. No outcome can be promised in any case.