Dhaka: European aviation safety is being undermined by systemic issues including high-pressure working environments, precarious employment, and growing mental health concerns among aircrew, according to a new study by Ghent University.

The survey of 6,900 pilots and cabin crew found that 68pc of respondents were below mental well-being thresholds, while 78pc felt "dehumanised" by their working conditions. The report warns these conditions are common across both low-cost and traditional airlines.

Researchers highlighted a sharp drop in pilots’ willingness to challenge unsafe decisions, with only 50pc saying they feel empowered to adapt orders for safety reasons – down from 82pc in 2014.

Nearly a third feared career repercussions for doing so.

The study also pointed to a rise in fatigue, with scheduling practices pushing legal flight time limits. One earlier survey of German pilots found over 90pc had napped during flights, often due to exhaustion linked to staff shortages.

Cabin crew reported increasing pressure to prioritise onboard retail sales over safety duties, contributing to role conflict and additional stress.

Yves Jorens, one of the study's authors, said growing job insecurity, poor contracts, and fear of retaliation are preventing crew from reporting safety concerns. “The risk is we will only act after a serious accident,” he warned.

-B