About 5,000 pilots that are currently licensed to fly in the United States are now being investigated for reportedly falsifying medical records hiding significant health issues that could imperil their ability to fly safely, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
The pilots in question are mostly military veterans who have informed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that they could fly but did not reveal they were receiving veterans benefits for disabilities that could prevent them from effectively sitting in a pilot’s seat.
Veterans Affairs investigators stumbled on the pattern of inconsistencies several years ago, but the FAA did not publicly disclose different parts of the investigation.