THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES OF SCIENCES, ENGINEERING, AND MEDICINE
Center for Health, People, and Places and Transportation Research Board
Biomedical and Health Sciences Program Area
Committee on Health and Safety Impacts of Aircraft Cabin Temperatures
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Congressional Briefing
Monday, June 1, 2026 – 3:00 p.m.
via Zoom
on
Health and Safety Impacts of Aircraft Cabin Temperatures
Requested by Congress in P.L. 118-63, the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act, this report examines the available evidence on how cabin temperatures and humidity conditions may influence physiological, cognitive, and behavioral outcomes for passengers and flight attendants.
The report provides recommendations to strengthen management of cabin temperature risks, including integrating temperature and humidity hazards into airline safety management systems, improving collection and use of aviation safety and health event data, strengthening operational practices for thermal control in aircraft cabins, supporting flight attendants in responding to unsafe conditions, and providing passengers with information about temperature-related risks. It also recommends that the Federal Aviation Administration establish a research program to systematically collect representative data on cabin temperature and humidity conditions to better inform future mitigation strategies and safety oversight.
The report highlights can be found here.
This briefing was for members of Congress and congressional staff only. The report was publicly released on June 3, 2026 and can be found, in its entirety, on the Web site of the National Academies Press.