PREVENTing Pilot murder-suicide: A policy-oriented review

Sebastian Wandelt, Yurou Zhang, Oscar Oviedo-Trespalacios and Xiaoqian Sun

Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 2026, vol. 206, issue C

Abstract: Pilot murder-suicides represent a critical and under-addressed challenge at the intersection of human factors, safety management, and intelligent transportation systems. Recent high-profile incidents–such as Mozambique Airlines Flight 470 (2013), Germanwings Flight 9525 (2015), China Eastern Airlines Flight 5735 (2022), and preliminary discussions around Air India Flight 171 (2025)–have underscored the urgent need for evidence-based prevention strategies that align with the evolving landscape of smart and automated aviation. While substantial primary research exists, the field lacks a comprehensive, policy-oriented synthesis that bridges psychological, operational, and technological dimensions. To address this gap, we consolidate the extant literature and introduce the PREVENT framework, a multidimensional, data-driven approach to mitigating pilot murder-suicide risks. The framework spans seven prevention domains, offering actionable insights for integrating mental health support, real-time risk monitoring, and human-centered design into next-generation aviation systems. By synthesizing empirical evidence and case studies, this review provides a roadmap for policymakers, transport authorities, and industry practitioners to enhance safety in intelligent aviation environments. We identify conceptual and empirical gaps to guide future research, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary collaboration between behavioral science, engineering, and public policy to ensure safe, resilient, and human-focused smart transportation systems.

Keywords: Air transportation; Pilot; Suicide (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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DOI: 10.1016/j.tra.2026.104904

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