On Dec. 12, a law professor sued Boeing after flying on a Boeing 737 aircraft with Delta Air Lines in 2024 and alleging he suffered serious health issues after being exposed to toxic fumes that entered the plane cabin. While both Boeing and Delta have yet to respond to the lawsuit, the incident raised concern among travelers.

Surprisingly, this isn’t as rare of an occurrence as many might assume. Last February, another Delta Air Lines flight had to make an emergency landing after smoke filled the cabin mid-flight. In fact, according to a CBS News review of Federal Aviation Administration reports, related smoke or fume events happen on airliners an average of more than three times a day. And, according to experts, these fumes can be toxic.

What exactly makes up these fumes? It’s a mix of fresh air from the plane’s engines that filters through the air conditioner that provides air for passengers. If the engine seal becomes faulty, oil and other potentially dangerous particles can be released into the cabin. Exposure to these fumes can lead to shortness of breath, neurological issues and other illnesses.

While the FAA notes such incidents as rare, journalists investigating the issue uncovered many cases where aircrew reported sudden cardiac, neurological and psychiatric symptoms after exposure to fumes. The smell is often compared to burning oil.

All aircraft except Boeing’s 787 draw air through the aircraft’s engine, utilizing air supply systems.

A Daily Mail article in late December 2025 detailed the decline of Ron Weiland, a 54-year-old American Airlines pilot described as healthy and fit before he was eventually diagnosed with ALS, passing away two years later in 2017. Weiland’s family continue to believe exposure to toxic air onboard aircraft triggered the disease. In fact, two months before Weiland’s symptoms worsened, he stopped a flight onboard a Boeing 767 at Miami International Airport after noticing a strong smell of engine oil. American Airlines settled the case with Weiland’s family in 2022 for an undisclosed sum and denied the claim.

An April 2025 case saw a United Airlines flight attendant file a lawsuit against Airbus SE for injuries she alleged to have suffered after being exposed to contaminated cabin air. This lawsuit was dismissed that July and, while the terms of the dismissal were never made public, the lawsuit shed more light on potential claims that can emerge when similar events occur in the future.

There essentially seems to be disputes over reported fume events on planes between passengers, flight attendants, pilots and industry officials.

According to the FAA, these fume events are “rare instances,” and airlines and manufacturers often insist cabin air continues to meet standards. But these recent incidents raise questions, and there are pushes for new regulations, better sensors and extensive investigations to reduce such events in the future.

Have you been on a plane when smoke or fumes entered the cabin? Do you or do you know someone who suffered health issues after a similar incident on a plane? Email us at letters@globaltravelerusa.com. Please include your full name and location.