Flight Attendant's Breast Cancer Recognized as Occupational Disease in France

The breast cancer of 59-year-old flight attendant Sophie Lainault, who worked for Air France in France, has been registered as an occupational disease by a court decision.

Precedent-Setting Decision by the Court

The court in the southwestern French city of Bayonne signed off on a decision that will set a precedent regarding the health conditions of airline employees. This lawsuit, which resulted in favor of the flight attendant who worked for many years, opened the door to a new era in discussions on occupational diseases in the aviation sector.

Carcinogenic Factors Identified

In the reasoned decision prepared by the court, three main carcinogenic factors stemming from the flight attendant profession were clearly defined. These factors included cosmic radiation, secondhand smoke, and long-term night shifts.

Flight History and Working Conditions

Sophie Lainault logged a total of 12,600 flight hours between 1989 and 2019. It was stated that more than half of these flights were conducted at night and that passengers were allowed to smoke on Air France flights until 2000.

Early Retirement and Health Rights

With this legal decision, Sophie Lainault, whose cancer is in remission, obtained the right to early retirement. It was also reported that all of her treatment expenses will be covered by the French healthcare system.