Even if you are flying a pressurized aircraft, altitude DCS can occur as a result of sudden loss of cabin pressure (inflight rapid decompression). Following exposure to an inflight rapid decompressions do not fly for at least 24 hrs.

Yes, you can develop Decompression Sickness (DCS), also known as "the bends," if you fly too soon after scuba diving. When you dive, your body absorbs nitrogen from the pressurized air; if you then ascend to the lower atmospheric pressure of an airplane cabin (which is typically pressurized to an equivalent altitude of 6,000–8,000 feet), that residual nitrogen can form bubbles in your blood and tissues. These bubbles can cause symptoms ranging from joint pain and rashes to severe neurological damage. In 2026, the standard recommendation from the Divers Alert Network (DAN) is to wait at least 12 hours after a single no-decompression dive and at least 18–24 hours after multiple days of diving or dives requiring decompression stops. It is also possible, though rare, for high-altitude flight crews or passengers in unpressurized aircraft to experience "altitude DCS" if they rapidly ascend above 18,000 feet without proper pre-oxygenation.