Lung Cancer in the Aviation and Aerospace Industry
For decades, those in the aerospace and aviation industry risked exposure to a cancer-causing mineral called asbestos, putting them in danger of lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other serious health issues decades later. We can help if you or someone you love is facing lung cancer from working in the aviation or aerospace industries.
About Aviation and Aerospace Asbestos Exposure Risks
Many products used by the aerospace and aviation industries, including brakes, insulation, and gaskets, were made with a toxic substance called asbestos. While asbestos is fire-resistant and very durable, it puts those in these industries at risk of serious illnesses later in life.
Asbestos is now known as a carcinogen, or cancer-causing substance. Today, aerospace and aviation workers exposed decades ago are now suffering from lung cancer as a result of long-term or chronic exposure.
Quick Facts on Aviation and Aerospace Asbestos Risk
- Asbestos exposure is linked to serious diseases like lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis.
- Even small amounts of exposure can raise your risk of cancer over time.
- Aircraft mechanics, aircrew, and maintenance workers faced a higher risk of exposure since they often worked with asbestos products like gaskets, brake linings, and insulation.
- Asbestos dust can cling to clothing, putting family members at risk from secondhand exposure.
- Older airplanes may still contain asbestos, putting mechanics and others at risk of exposure today.
- Compensation is often available for aviation or aerospace workers who’ve developed lung cancer, with payouts sometimes reaching $1 million or more.
At Lung Cancer Group, we’re ready to support aviation and aerospace workers who are now fighting lung cancer. Get started now with a free case review.
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How Aviation and Aerospace Asbestos Exposure Occurred
For many years, people who worked on airplanes and spacecraft were exposed to asbestos without knowing it was harmful. The fibers helped stop fires and handle heat, but they were dangerous to breathe in or swallow.
Common ways aviation and aerospace workers were exposed include:
- Handling or replacing brakes, gaskets, or seals made with asbestos materials
- Working on engines or insulation that used heat-resistant asbestos sheets
- Repairing or sanding aircraft parts, causing dust to fill the air
- Performing maintenance in tight spaces, like cockpits or engine bays, with poor airflow
Once in the body, the asbestos fibers stayed, and as the body tried to break them down, long-term irritation occurred. Over 10-50 years, this could lead to the development of lung cancer, mesothelioma, asbestosis, or other asbestos-related illnesses.
Aerospace or aviation workers who smoked had an even higher risk of developing lung cancer if they were exposed to asbestos as well. This is because asbestos worsens the damage that smoking does to the lungs.
Products That Increased Aviation and Aerospace Asbestos Risks
Aerospace workers could have come in contact with asbestos through any number of products that contained the harmful mineral.
Even if aviation workers knew they were handling asbestos, they likely didn’t know it was dangerous. This is because manufacturers of asbestos-containing materials hid the health risks from the public for decades.
Asbestos products that were used by the aerospace industry included:
- Brake linings and pads
- Engine linings
- Gaskets
- Heat shields
- Insulation
- Panels
- Sealant
- Wiring
As aircraft mechanics and other workers repaired, installed, or replaced these components, they could release asbestos fibers into the air, contributing to their diagnosis later in life.
Aviation and Aerospace Asbestos Exposure: High-Risk Jobs
Anyone exposed to asbestos-containing materials while working in the aviation and aerospace industry could go on to develop lung cancer later in life. This is because there’s no safe level of exposure to any type of asbestos.
With that said, some workers were exposed to asbestos on a daily basis, putting them at a higher risk of getting sick.
High-risk aviation and aerospace asbestos exposure jobs included:
- Aerospace company workers: Workers at companies like Boeing or Lockheed Martin who repaired or cleaned old plane parts
- Aircraft mechanics: Worked with gaskets, brake linings, and insulation that contained asbestos
- Aircrew and airmen: Spent time in older planes that used asbestos for heat and sound control
- Airport firefighters: Put out blazes that released asbestos fibers into the air
Technicians and maintenance crews: Fixed engines, wiring, and panels with asbestos-containing parts. - U.S. veterans: Especially those in the U.S. Air Force who worked around military aircraft
These workers faced an increased risk because asbestos fibers can stay in the lungs for decades. Even years after leaving the job, damage can lead to lung cancer, mesothelioma, or asbestosis.
Call (877) 446-5767 now to get help if you or someone you love is a former aerospace engineer or worker suffering from lung cancer. We may be able to recover compensation and provide information about treatments.
Modern-Day Aviation and Aerospace Asbestos Exposure Risks
Older planes, helicopters, and other types of aircraft that were built before the dangers of asbestos were fully understood could still contain asbestos products like brake pads and engine linings. As a result, it’s possible for asbestos to still cause harm.
The problem of “legacy asbestos” is not going away, as existing legislation doesn’t account for renovating older planes, vehicles, or buildings that may have asbestos present.
Anyone working on older aircraft built prior to the early 1980s should use extreme caution when performing repairs or renovations. Using personal protective equipment (PPE) and working in well-ventilated spaces can help reduce the long-term health impacts of exposure from older planes.
Secondhand Aviation and Aerospace Asbestos Risks
Aviation and aerospace industry workers could have also put their families at risk of asbestos exposure inadvertently.
Secondhand or secondary exposure occurred when these workers came home with asbestos fibers stuck to their skin, hair, clothing, or tools. This meant that their family members risked regular exposure to asbestos.
As a child, Shandi remembered hugging her father, a U.S. Air Force engine mechanic, after he’d come back from his duties at an air hangar. She was later diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma as a result of this secondary exposure, and medically retired from her career in the Air Force to get treatment.
“I feel very optimistic, but it’s always in the back of my head: When is it going to come back?”
– Shandi, Mesothelioma Survivor
Asbestos-Related Diseases Affecting Aviation & Aerospace Workers
Aviation and aerospace industry workers who were exposed to asbestos could go on to develop serious health issues, including cancer, as a result.
Notable asbestos-related diseases include:
- Lung cancer caused or worsened by the impacts of asbestos exposure
- Mesothelioma, a rare cancer only caused by asbestos
- Asbestosis, a lung disease in which the lungs become stiff due to asbestos
- Other asbestos-related health problems like pleural effusions (fluid buildup in the lung lining), throat cancer, ovarian cancer, and colorectal cancer
Any of these diseases can develop 10-50 years following exposure to asbestos fibers, but symptoms are often mild or vague at first. As a result, diagnosis can be delayed until advanced stages, limiting treatment and prognosis (health outlook).
Aerospace and aviation industry workers should reach out to their doctor and ask about their risk if they know that they were exposed to asbestos. Precautionary measures like lung cancer screenings can go a long way toward diagnosing and treating diseases early.
Legal Options for Aviation and Aerospace Asbestos Exposure
If you’ve developed lung cancer or another asbestos-related illness, you may be eligible for financial compensation from different sources.
Asbestos compensation can pay for anything as you see fit, including medical bills, basic household expenses, and more.
Lung cancer compensation is available through:
- Personal injury lawsuits: Filing a mesothelioma or lung cancer lawsuit allows you to recover compensation from manufacturers of asbestos-containing products. Some of these lawsuits pay out $1 million or more.
- Wrongful death lawsuits: These lawsuits allow families to pursue a payout if someone they love died from an asbestos-related disease. Many past cases have awarded over $1 million.
- Asbestos trust funds: Many companies set aside compensation in bankruptcy funds to pay people harmed by their asbestos products without the need for a lawsuit. There’s more than $30 billion available across dozens of trusts.
- VA benefits: Veterans, especially those in the U.S. Air Force, may qualify for health care and disability compensation through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The average VA payout is $4,158.17 for 2026.
Trying to recover lung cancer compensation on your own can be daunting, but we’re here to help. Our partner asbestos and lung cancer attorneys can help determine your eligibility for compensation and file claims on your behalf at no upfront cost.
Get a free case review now to find out if you’re eligible for asbestos and lung cancer payouts.
- Access Financial Aid and Justice
- Learn About Your Options
- Contact Us for Free
Support for Aviation & Aerospace Workers With Lung Cancer
Across the country, former aviation and aerospace workers are dealing with the stress of a lung cancer diagnosis through no fault of their own. Companies that used asbestos had a duty to warn the public but failed to do so for decades.
Today, Lung Cancer Group is here to support aircraft industry workers who are grappling with an unexpected diagnosis of lung cancer, mesothelioma, or another asbestos-related disease.
Work with our team to:
- Better understand potential lung cancer treatments
- Explore financial compensation options
- Receive support that you deserve during this uncertain time
- Protect your family’s future
Call (877) 446-5767 or get our Free Lung Cancer Guide now to explore all the ways we can assist you or somebody you love.
Aviation and Aerospace Asbestos Risk FAQs
Is asbestos still used in aerospace?
Asbestos is no longer used to make new planes or aircraft due to the risk of lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other serious health issues.
With that said, aerospace and aviation industry workers could still be in danger due to legacy asbestos, which is present in older planes, helicopters, and other types of aircraft built prior to the 1980s.
As a result, workers need to take precautions when working around planes that may contain asbestos-containing products like brake pads and insulation.
Are aircraft mechanics exposed to asbestos?
Yes, aircraft mechanics were frequently exposed to asbestos-containing components like insulation, brake pads, gaskets, and hood liners between the 1930s and early 1980s. Aircraft mechanics didn’t know that asbestos materials could cause them to get sick because manufacturers hid the risks.
U.S. Air Force mechanics were at a particularly high risk, because the military was one of the biggest consumers of asbestos before the dangers were fully understood.
Contact us if you or someone you love got sick with lung cancer, mesothelioma, or other illnesses and may have worked with or around asbestos earlier in life. We can help you understand your treatment and compensation options.
Do airplanes contain asbestos?
Yes, many airplanes built between the 1930s and early 1980s used asbestos-containing materials like brake pads, electrical wiring, and insulation.
Those in the aviation and aerospace industries may have had to handle these components on an everyday basis, breathing in harmful fibers that could cause lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other serious illnesses later in life.
Where can aviation and aerospace workers and their families find support after a lung cancer diagnosis?
Being diagnosed with lung cancer can be overwhelming for anyone, but we’re here to offer the support that you deserve. Our dedicated and experienced team can help you learn about possible lung cancer treatment options, ways to afford medical care and other expenses, and receive support.
Get our Free Lung Cancer Guide to find out all of the ways we’re able to assist you and your loved ones in the wake of a lung cancer diagnosis.
