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US Senate approves legislation to address pilot, air traffic control mental health issues

By Thomson Reuters Sep 25, 2026 | 10:18 AM

WASHINGTON, Sept 25 (Reuters) – The US Senate approved bipartisan ​legislation to modernize ‌regulations on mental health guidance for pilots and air traffic ‌controllers ​to encourage ⁠early disclosure ⁠and treatment.

Commercial airline pilots often conceal mental health conditions for ​fear that disclosing therapy or ⁠medication, or ⁠even just seeking ​help, could mean ​having their license pulled, ‌putting themselves and their passengers at risk.

The legislation, sponsored ⁠by Senators John Hoeven and Tammy Duckworth, aims ⁠to ‌encourage pilots ⁠and air traffic ​controllers ‌to seek mental ​health ⁠care, when needed, while reducing the stigma.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Mark ​Porter)