Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

British Man Denied Airline Pilot License Because of HIV Status

British Man Denied Airline Pilot License Because of HIV Status

A British man has been prevented from becoming a commercial airline pilot because he is HIV-positive, according to a BuzzFeed News exclusive report. The UK's Civil Aviation Authority has blocked the Glasgow resident, who Buzzfeed identifies as "Anthony" to protect his anonymity, from pursuing his dream of flying.


The man accused the UK's Civil Aviation Authority of discrimination, and for destroying his "boyhood dream."

Anthony told Buzzfeed News that the CAA's decision has left him unable to take up an offer from EasyJet, a British airline, on its pilot training program. He spent years working in hospitality management to save up money for the training, and also qualified for a private flying license. Instead, Anthony has spent the last six months attempting to appeal against the decision -- without success.

Anthony shared his disappointment:

It has had a fundamental impact. It means the one career choice I want to make and want to do, I’m being told no, and the cause of that is because I’m HIV-positive. It has destroyed a boyhood dream for me. It makes it difficult to accept the [HIV] diagnosis because you want to believe there are no restrictions to you, but actually, there are.

The CAA refused his application based on its interpretation of European rules set by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

This is despite HIV-positive people in the Netherlands, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand being able to apply for a commercial pilot’s license, and despite the CAA not testing existing pilots for the virus. Current pilots who become HIV-positive are also able to continue flying.

Under the UK's Equality Act of 2010, HIV is deemed a disability and therefore employers (other than the armed services) are prevented from excluding those living with the virus. Both the National AIDS Trust and HIV Scotland support Anthony’s case.

The CAA has declined to discuss the case further with Anthony, he said.

Seems the current United States administration is not the only world-leading government guilty of LGBTQ discriminations.

People are more than a little upset.

The UK's Civil Aviation Authority is stuck in the 20th century.

"We've entered a Renaissance of Unenlightment. Never have there been so many "others" being used by the powerful to distract the public from their evil-doing."

This one guy from Kentucky also thinks the pilot's status puts passengers at risk.

Twitter user @richynasa, whose account lists him as living in Louisville, Kentucky, is also stuck in the past. He refers to the pilot as a "life-threatening candidate," and still believes that the pilot's HIV+ status puts passengers' lives on the lines, despite all the research to the contrary.

And this knucklehead, currently the president of EU Commission, equates having HIV to being colorblind. Apples and oranges, bud.

Does a person's HIV status have anything to do with his job performance, or with his employer?

This person's answer is a solid NO.

This person suggests it is because of the man's medications, which would be ridiculous.

Buzzfeed reports that one of the scientists behind the medical research on which the policy is based has called the authorities' interpretation of the evidence “simplistic” and “naïve”. And a leading HIV charity has accused the CAA of a “serious violation” of equality legislation.

The British CAA tries to blame EU regulations, but we are not buying it.

Both the CAA and EASA have said they believe the policy should change, citing "European regulations" as the reason for Anthony's rejection.

However, EASA added that national aviation authorities such as the CAA were able to deviate from the European rules "provided the need is justified and safety level can be maintained".

"An unacceptable risk."

Anthony said that he was told by the CAA in 2014 -- the year he was diagnosed with HIV -- that he would be able to apply for the aviation certificate. But when he approached the CAA again this year, after receiving the training offer from EasyJet, the CAA’s response was the opposite.

In a conversation with the CAA, Anthony said he was informed that the “spirit of the multi-crew limitation is to keep experienced pilots flying, not to allow people who present an unacceptable risk."

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

h/t: Buzzfeed News, Twitter

More from News

Karla Sofia Gascón
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

'Emilia Pérez' Star Opens Up About Getting Hit With Transphobic Hate And Death Threats

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, actor Karla Sofia Gascón opened up about the transphobic hate and vile death threats she's received since her critically acclaimed performance in Netflix's Emilia Pérez.

The film, a maximalist musical darkly comedic crime film that also stars actors Zoe Saldaña and Selena Gomez, won the Jury Prize and the Best Actress award for its female ensemble at last year's Cannes Film Festival. It is about a cartel leader (Gascón) who enlists the help of an attorney (Saldaña) to help her fake her own death by undergoing a gender transition.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots of dog-owner being reunited with his dog
@LizKreutzNews/X

Man Who Lost Home To LA Wildfires Has Emotional Reunion With Dog He Feared Had Perished

Raging wildfires continue to devastate areas throughout Los Angeles County since January 7, primarily due to a lack of humidity and powerful wind gusts.

Thousands of LA residents were forced to leave under mandatory evacuation orders while surrounding neighborhoods in Red Flag Warning zones are on standby as firefighters continue fighting the blazes around the clock.

Keep ReadingShow less
Khabib Nurmagomedov; screenshot from @viceplayer28's TikTok video
Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images, @viceplayer28/TikTok

Frontier Airlines Responds To Outrage After Muslim UFC Champ Was Kicked Off Flight

Former UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has responded after viral clips showed him getting kicked off a flight following a dispute over seating arrangements with a flight attendant.

According to a TMZ report, the boarding dust-up took place on a flight leaving Las Vegas' Harry Reid International Airport on Saturday.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump; Screenshot of Tom Emmer
Scott Olson/Getty Images; Tom Emmer

GOP Rep. Dragged For His Awkwardly Fawning Reaction To Past Criticism From Trump

Minnesota Republican Representative Tom Emmer, the House Majority Whip, was mocked online after he had only glowing things to say about President-elect Donald Trump despite Trump's negative assessment of him from 2023.

That year, the former president took to Truth Social to deride Emmer as “totally out-of-touch with Republican Voters” and a “Globalist RINO," even getting on the phone with members of Congress to stress he would not support Emmer's bid for the House speakership.

Keep ReadingShow less
A woman in a hospital bed
a woman laying in a hospital bed with an iv in her hand

People's Wildest 'I Should Have Died But Didn't' Experiences

Many of us sometimes wish we were given a different life.

We grew up in a different place, found ourselves working a different career, or, in more extreme cases, were born into a different family.

Keep ReadingShow less