French court recognizes flight attendant's breast cancer as occupational disease

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Started 16D · Updated 15D

A French court has ruled that a former Air France flight attendant's breast cancer is an occupational disease, a first for the country's airline sector. Sophie Lainault, 59, worked for Air France for 30 years, logging over 12,600 flight hours, more than 6,500 of them at night.

The ruling

In early July, a court in Bayonne recognized the professional origin of her cancer, citing her regular night work, exposure to ionizing radiation, and passive smoking—cigarettes were allowed on Air France flights until 2000. The court also noted that no genetic or lifestyle factors could explain the illness. This decision came after two regional committees had previously rejected the link.

Implications

Lainault's lawyer, Elisabeth Leroux, says the ruling could set a precedent for other flight crew members. Lainault hopes it "opens the way to other women who, until now, perhaps would not have dared to take this step." The recognition also allows her to access early retirement.

Air France, which was not a party to the case, said it was unaware of the court's reasoning and stressed that employee health and safety are a top priority. This is not the first such case in France: in 2023, a nurse who worked nights for 28 years and was exposed to radiation received similar recognition.

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