WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last night, flight attendants and pilots were hospitalized for what appeared to be carbon monoxide poisoning on a U.S. Airways flight from Washington, D.C. to Boston. Edward Wytkind, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, offers the following statement:
“For years, transportation unions have supported the call for healthy air quality in the aircraft cabin. Last night’s hospitalization was a dramatic example of what can happen when these calls to action are ignored. Flight crews shouldn’t have to seek emergency medical treatment simply for breathing the air at their workplace. Air carriers and the federal government must stop stalling and fix this problem.
“Flight attendants and pilots aren’t the only people traveling on airplanes – harmful air quality affects the traveling public as well. Consumers will not accept unhealthy air and airline employees won’t either. This problem deserves an urgent response, and it’s time for Congress to demand action.”
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The Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, represents 32 member unions in the aviation, rail, transit, trucking, highway, longshore, maritime and related industries. For more information, visit ttd.org.
