A new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine examined nearly 13 million U.S. death certificates from 2020 to 2024, covering 503 occupations, to assess deaths from cancers associated with radiation exposure.
The study found that flight attendants ranked first and pilots second for radiation-related cancer deaths. Such cancers accounted for 6.9% of flight attendant deaths and 6.7% of pilot deaths, compared with 5% among the general working population.
Researchers found that aircraft mechanics, who work around aircraft but do not accumulate flight hours, did not show a similar increase. The findings point to cosmic radiation at high altitudes as one possible explanation.
Aircrew are estimated to receive around 3–6 millisieverts of cosmic radiation annually, far more than typical passengers. However, the study does not prove that radiation caused individual cancers.
Researchers say the findings should not cause frequent flyers to panic, but argue that U.S. aircrew may need protections similar to those provided to other radiation-exposed workers.