Dealing with unruly or violent passengers is just one of the hazards of working as a flight crew. There are inconspicuous dangers that such workers face, though.
Four American Airlines flight attendants recently won a lawsuit against the company's uniform provider.
A jury in Alameda County Superior Court near San Francisco, California, had ruled that Twin Hill Acquisition Co. should pay the four plaintiffs more than $1 million in damages for causing them a variety of ailments, including rashes, blisters, itchy or burning skin, headaches, and breathing problems, ABC News reported.
The case stemmed from the AA uniform supplied by Twin Hill in 2016. In their lawsuit, the flight attendants claimed that their uniforms contained traces of formaldehyde, toluene, and other toxic chemicals linked to health problems, according to ABC News.
The report said that resins containing formaldehyde have been used in fabric for years to keep clothes wrinkle-free and make them last longer, but some people are allergic to it.
Overlooked aircraft damage also endangers flight crew as well as passengers.
When a Titans Airways plane flew airline employees to Orlando, Florida, United States from London, United Kingdom on 4 October, the pilot returned shortly after takeoff.
The crew discovered that two windows had missing panes and rubber seals when the plane reached 10,000 feet. At that altitude, the crew heard the loud flapping of the loose seal in the window and cabin noise. Fortunately, the damaged windows stayed in place, and the cabin did not lose pressure.
The plane safely landed at London airport, and no one was harmed.
Based on the incident report by the Air Accidents Investigations Branch, the New York Post reported that the Airbus A321 plane was used for filming the day before the flight, and powerful lights were set up nearby to "give the illusion of a sunrise.
AAIB investigators said the high temperature from the 5-hour lighting exposure melted and deformed parts of the windows, but the damage went unnoticed until the flight. WJG @tribunephl_wjg