Flight attendant’s breast cancer was occupational disease, court rules

A French flight attendant has won a landmark legal case recognizing her breast cancer as an occupational disease, marking the first such ruling in the country’s aviation sector. The court linked her illness to extensive flight hours and exposure to passive smoking, factors tied to her work as a flight attendant. Legal experts and labor unions suggest the decision could encourage other workers in the industry to pursue similar claims. The ruling highlights growing scrutiny over health risks faced by aviation employees.

Sophie Lainault, who worked for Air France, wins legal case linking illness to more than 12,600 hours on flightsA flight attendant in France has succeeded in having her breast cancer recognised as an occupational disease, a first for the country’s aviation industry, her lawyer and a trade union said.The ruling, which recognised that Sophie Lainault, a former flight attendant for Air France, had frequently worked at night and been exposed to passive smoking, could pave the way for similar claims, the lawyer and the CFDT union said. Continue reading...