"The thing I enjoy only slightly less than a tooth extraction is flying, especially long flights to London--which, by the way, Fairechild calls one of the worst journeys imaginable because it goes west to east (the worst direction for jet lag), exposes the body to higher degrees of radiation on its polar route, and can, magically, make 12 hours in a teeny seat feel like three years in a Roman galley." -John Bogert, Copley Newspapers

"Diana Fairechild, a former flight attendant who writes about and does consulting on the health risks of flying, says some frequent travelers often fail to connect the dots between their travels and chronic ailments like fatigue or allergies." -Alina Tugend, The New York Times

"Fairechild discusses what passengers can do to increase the oxygen levels and reduce exposure to toxic chemicals and infectious agents." -Art Bell, Coast to CoastAM

RELATED PAGES
Bill of Rights
Fast Facts
Air: low oxygen
Air: pilots control
Crew fatigue
Radio Interviews
Airline bankruptcies
AIR 21
Preemies, oxygen
Sick Airplanes
Water; unsafe

DEAR DIANA

I'm really feeling suspicious about the recent Helios Airways crash in Greece. The news reports sound like there is a cover-up. What do you think happened?

DIANA RESPONDS

Yes. It's very mysterious, starting with the fact that among the bodies they haven't yet found the captain.

The bottom line is this, though: airplanes are not safe unless they are well maintained.

This 737 was evidently not well maintained. And -- Helios is not the only airline that currently cuts corners in the maintenance department (and every other department except CEO lunch treats).

The mother of the dead co-pilot said that her son had constantly complained to her about this specific aircraft being too cold, and that he had reported this to the company. (Japan Today)

When an aircraft is cold it generally means that the skin of the aircraft, the fuselage, has some holes in it creating "a slow decompression."

On a scale of one to ten, ten being the worst decompression, one is when the cabin feels cold and the oxygen is even more scarce than normal. Ten is when the air has become unbreathable.

This is a serious emergency situation in which passengers and flight attendants can die within seconds if the oxygen masks don't drop, or if the masks cannot be activated (it happens). Pilots always have oxygen masks readied right by their seats so the situation is usually not as serious for them.

The news has now reported that this same aircraft had a decompression six months ago, and that a mechanic had resigned afterwards over it. (CBS News)

I have heard from many mechanics during my years of passenger advocacy. Here's an excerpt from one letter: "You would not believe the things I have seen in my career with the airlines. I actually watched a trans-Atlantic flight take off with a hole in the fuselage 5 inches long. The captain and the CEO had full knowledge of it, but this information was hidden from authorities. If passengers could see the true state of aircraft, they would insist that planes have more time on the ground to be repaired."

The current Helios Airways coverup is unfolding. A man who claimed to have received a telephone text message from a passenger on board was charged by the police with disseminating false information. He had told reporters that his cousin on the flight sent him a cell-phone text message saying: "Cousin, everyone is unconscious. We are all frozen ... the pilot is dead ... I bid you farewell." (Associated Press)

There have been other airline fatalities tracked to poor maintance. Two examples: Alaska Airlines Flight 261 in January 2001 and China Airlines Flight 611 in September 2002.

Who will stand up to the airlines and hold them accountable? I will. Please join me in airline passenger activism.