Can pilots fly with sore throats?

The safest rule is not to fly while suffering from any illness. If this rule is considered too stringent for a particular illness, the pilot should contact an aviation medical examiner for advice.



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Generally speaking, flying with a cold or the flu isn't worth the risk. When you're tired, sick, or distracted, you're not at the top of your game, and flying just isn't a good idea. Even if you only have slight symptoms, it's better to stay grounded than to put yourself or others in danger by flying.

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Medical Problems
Unfortunately, some medical or health issues may cause you to fail the extensive medical examinations required to become a pilot. This includes certain heart diseases, conditions such as epilepsy, poor hearing, bad vision, and even common allergies, as certain allergy medications can make you drowsy.

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if you suffer from or have had:
  • angina or chest pain at rest.
  • an infectious disease (e.g. chickenpox, flu), including COVID-19.
  • decompression sickness after diving (sometimes called 'the bends')
  • increased pressure in the brain (due to bleeding, injury or infection)
  • infection of your ears or sinuses.
  • recent heart attack.


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If a pilot gets ill before the flight, he has to refuse the duty. It's his responsibility to show up fit for duty and he should be conscious enough that the safety of a few hundred innocent passengers plus crew depend on him being capable of doing his job properly.

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Infectious Diseases
An airline can deny boarding of any passenger who looks unwell, especially if they suspect the passenger might be infectious (infect other passengers).

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What happens when an airline pilot gets sick? If it's the flu or some other minor ailment, they call in sick like most others. However, if its serious, like a surgery or something ,then it needs to be reported to the concerned Aviation regulator.

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Generally, you should also bag a trip if you have a fever higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit and symptoms such as coughing or sneezing, says William Schaffner, M.D., a professor of infectious diseases at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

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The FAA encourages pilots to seek help if they have a mental health condition since most, if treated, do not disqualify a pilot from flying.

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A routine part of the FAA medical exam is a urinalysis to check for sugar or protein, indicators of possible diabetes or kidney disease. Even as a commercial pilot participating in the DOT/FAA drug testing program, a drug test is done independent of an aviation medical examination.

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The FAA will approve pilots to fly when undergoing treatment with allergy desensitization shots. Pilots should be cautious flying after receiving higher strength/concentration serums to insure they do not have a delayed allergic reaction.

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Flying with a congested nose is not recommended because it may worsen your infection or cause serious medical emergencies.

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It is important to note that an airline has the right to refuse a passenger if staff believe that the passenger meets the following conditions: if the passenger could be considered a potential safety hazard, might require medical attention during the flight, has a condition that might deteriorate during the flight, or ...

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The unexpected death, illness, or injury of you and/or a traveling companion that deems you unfit to travel, by order of a licensed physician. The hospitalization or death of a non-traveling family member.

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Planes also have very little humidity and the dry air can irritate the mucous membranes of the throat.

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Personal Issue - Consumers who purchase nonrefundable tickets, but are unable to travel for a personal reason, such as being sick or late to the airport, are not entitled to a refund.

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