The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local health departments have conducted six investigations of possible tuberculosis (TB) transmission on commercial aircraft. In all six instances, a passenger or a member of the flight crew traveled on commercial airplanes while infectious with TB. In none of the six instances were the airlines aware of the TB in their passengers. In two of the instances, CDC concluded that TB was probably transmitted to others on the airplane.

TB is spread from person to person through the air. When a person with infectious TB coughs or sneezes, tiny droplets containing TB bacteria may be released into the air. Other people may inhale these droplets and become infected.

The CDC found that the risk of TB transmission from an infectious person to others on an airplane was greater on long flights (i.e., 8 hours or longer). The risk of exposure to TB was higher for passengers and flight crew sitting or working near an infectious person. These persons may inhale droplets containing TB bacteria.

The risk of TB transmission on a airplane does not appear to be greater than in any other enclosed space. To prevent the possibility of exposure to TB on airplanes, CDC recommends that persons known to have infectious TB travel by private transportation (i.e., not by commercial airplanes or other commercial carriers), if travel is required. CDC has issued guidelines for notifying passengers who may have been exposed to TB aboard airplanes. Passengers concerned about a possible exposure to TB should see their primary health care provider for a TB skin test. TB is a treatable and preventable disease.