Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola Fact Checked January 31, 2023
STORY AT-A-GLANCE
October 24, 2022, the FAA changed the EKG requirements necessary for pilots to fly —
but not to make them safer
With no public announcement or explanation, the agency expanded the allowable range
for PR, a measure of heart function
Widening this parameter means those with potential heart damage are now allowed to fly
commercial aircraft, potentially putting passengers at risk, should they suffer a heart
attack or other event while in the air
Evidence suggests that pilots’ worsening heart health is due to adverse effects of COVID-
19 shots
An estimated 20% of pilots screened may have suffered heart damage due to COVID-19
shots, and the FAA may have been forced to widen the EKG parameters so pilots could
continue to fly