Democratic lawmakers urge FAA not to drop rule requiring epinephrine on all flights

A coalition of Democratic lawmakers sent a letter on Monday to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) urging it not to modify a rule mandating the presence of epinephrine on all US airlines for handling medical emergencies, particularly severe allergic reactions. The senators and representatives cited the increasing prevalence of food allergens, a growing number of children with food allergies, the rise of tick-borne illnesses leading to potentially fatal allergies, and the likelihood of multiple passengers requiring epinephrine during a single flight.

The FAA in August proposed allowing airlines to have more flexibility regarding emergency medical kit requirements, eliminating a list of mandatory medical items and establishing performance-based standards for managing nine life-threatening conditions. The lawmakers noted that a 2025 FAA working group recommended an auto-delivery device pre-measured with epinephrine, contrary to the agency's present proposal.

Several airlines, including JetBlue Airways, Southwest, Frontier, and Breeze Airways, currently stock their kits with epinephrine auto-injectors. American Airlines includes both adult- and pediatric-dose epinephrine auto-injectors. Delta Air Lines plans to transition its fleet to include auto-injectors by September 2027, while United Airlines and Allegiant Air have started working on incorporating auto-injectors into their kits.

The American Medical Association has also expressed concern, warning the FAA that allowing individual airlines to decide on their medical supplies could jeopardize passenger safety during in-flight emergencies, citing potential risks associated with epinephrine and certain diagnostic tools. The FAA has stated it will review all relevant comments before finalizing new regulations.