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Fox News
02-07-2025
- Fox News
The gross reason airplane passengers might want to avoid using the water on flights
Flying with hundreds of other people at one time can be a gateway to illness. Various airplane surfaces — such as overhead bins, tray tables, instruction cards and seat covers — are some of the biggest sources of germs, according to flight attendants. Even the water in the bathroom can pose a risk — leading some people to question whether it's even sanitary to wash one's hands on a flight. "It's a good idea for passengers to use hand sanitizer after stowing away their luggage, touching anything in the seat pocket in front of them, and going to the bathroom," flight attendant and travel blogger Josephine Remo, who is based in Portugal, previously told Travel & Leisure. Bathrooms can be especially dirty, as the toilets are regularly cleaned, but the locks and door handles may not be, according to Remo. The water in the bathroom can contain a plethora of contaminants, research suggests, which could be found in bathroom sink water and drinking water, as well as the coffee, tea and ice served onboard. A 2019 study by the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center confirmed that select airlines have potentially provided passengers with unhealthy drinking water. Of the 11 major and 12 regional airlines studied, 15 airlines received an Onboard Water Health Score of 2 or lower out of 5. The federal government's Aircraft Drinking Water Rule (ADWR) requires airlines to provide passengers and crew with safe drinking water, according to the researchers. Airlines are also required to test the water for bacteria and E. coli, and to disinfect and flush the aircraft's water tank four times per year. "Alternatively, an airline may choose to disinfect and flush once a year, but then it must test monthly," the researchers noted. "The 2019 Airline Water Study also finds that the Environmental Protection Agency – one of the federal agencies responsible for ensuring safe aircraft drinking water – rarely levies civil penalties to airlines in violation of the ADWR." In an interview with Fox News Digital, travel expert and author of Gary Leff confirmed that "very little cleaning" happens between most domestic flights. "Planes aren't on the ground very long — an airline only makes money when their planes are in the air," said the expert, who is based in Austin, Texas. "And cleaning crews often have to come onboard and tidy while passengers are deplaning." "Different airlines take different approaches, and cleaning will vary across different cabins and classes of service." "When an inbound aircraft is late, the airline wants to make up time, and cleaning is often sacrificed," he pointed out. "When airlines face financial struggles, deep cleans are one of the first things cut." Bathrooms can be particularly dirty due to passenger hygiene, according to Leff, and can get "pretty gross" over the course of a flight. Different airlines take different approaches, and cleaning will vary across cabins and classes of service, he noted. "I'm not going to suggest it's unsafe, per se — just disgusting," Leff said. "Don't go into the [lavatory] with bare feet. Bring your own sanitizer. And consider wiping down surfaces you'll be touching if you're so inclined, just knowing that this hasn't been done for you." Fox News' senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel also confirmed to Fox News Digital how "filthy" airplane bathrooms tend to be, including the water, as various studies have shown. "The tray tables are common surfaces that can be covered with bacteria and viruses," he cautioned. "And though the HEPA filters overhead are effective, they don't really work until the plane is in the air and the filtration system is fully engaged. And [they] don't prevent the person next to you from coughing on you." Before and during a flight, the doctor suggested keeping well-hydrated, which can help fight off infection by keeping nasal membranes moist. He also encourages the use of sanitizers, wipes or gels to disinfect surfaces and hands. "I prefer washing hands thoroughly with soap, but on planes, I prefer sanitizers and wipes," Siegel said. In a statement sent to Fox News Digital, the EPA explained that the primary purpose of the ADWR is to "ensure that safe and reliable drinking water is provided to aircraft passengers and crew through requiring development and implementation of aircraft water system operations and maintenance plans that include strategies for monitoring, disinfection, and reporting." The EPA revealed that drinking water safety is "jointly regulated" by the EPA, FDA and FAA. "The regulatory structure for all public water systems, including aircraft, relies upon self-monitoring and reporting of results to the primacy agency," the agency said. "The EPA is responsible for oversight of the aircraft public water systems and provides guidance to help air carriers comply with ADWR." For more Health articles, visit An FAA spokesperson told Fox News Digital in a statement that the FAA is an "aviation safety agency" and water quality is "not within our regulatory authority." Fox News Digital reached out to OSHA for comment.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A gross airplane bathroom is the wrong place to do this, experts say — and you should follow their advice
Experts poo-poo the airplane loo. Flying might feel high-tech — but beneath the surface, it can get pretty gross. In fact, some experts warn that the water on board airplanes is so questionable, they wouldn't even wash their hands with it. While tray tables and overhead bins are known germ zones, it's the airplane bathroom that deserves the most caution. 'The toilets are regularly cleaned, but the locks and door handles are not,' Josephine Remo, a flight attendant and travel blogger, told Travel and Leisure. Even more concerning: studies show onboard water tanks may harbor harmful bacteria. A 2017 study in the Annals of Microbiology found over 50 strains of bacteria in ice used on planes. 'My takeaway from doing the research was to not drink the coffee and the tea. At all,' Charles Platkin, the author of the study and the executive director of the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center, told Travel and Leisure. He also echoed his team's findings, saying that he avoids washing his hands with water as well. He uses hand wipes instead. A former flight attendant also revealed to The Sun that the bathrooms onboard don't have great ventilation. 'The airplane loo is essentially a cupboard, with no clean air. There is no window, and the air ventilation is poor,' the unnamed attendant said. 'This means that every time you go to the loo, not only are you breathing in the air of many others who have 'done their business' before you (especially if it's a long-haul flight), but you could also be breathing in potential feces particles, circulating [in] the air after a toilet flush.' They recommend wearing a mask when entering the bathroom — or avoiding it altogether, if possible. If you need to brush your teeth during the flight, it's best to use bottled water, as the expert warns that the water is unfiltered and not in the best condition. Experts suggest packing hand sanitizer, using disinfectant wipes and being mindful of bathroom surfaces. 'I try to avoid the restroom if possible,' Shanina Knighton, a research associate professor at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University, told Travel and Leisure, 'but when I must go, I'm careful about what I touch. 'I wouldn't want to start a vacation with a stomach bug because of unsafe water exposure,' Knighton said.
The Sun
28-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Passengers should never wash their hands in airplane toilets, experts warn – it can make them dangerously more dirty
WASHING your hands on a plane might sound like a smart hygiene move, but experts say it could leave you dirtier. The warning comes from flight attendants and health researchers who say the water in airplane bathrooms is not as clean as some people might think. 2 2 Most airplane water tanks aren't cleaned often, and bacteria can easily spread, especially mid-air. A 2017 study published in the Annals of Microbiology found more than 50 different strains of bacteria in ice samples used on planes. "A consistent percentage of the microorganisms identified from ice are known agents of human infections," researchers wrote. "My takeaway from doing the research was to not drink the coffee and the tea. At all," Charles Platkin, who led the study, told Travel + Leisure. "I don't wash my hands either. I have wipes that I use," Platkin said. Even if toilets are cleaned regularly, "the locks and door handles are not," warned flight attendant and travel blogger Josephine Remo. Shanina Knighton, a research associate professor at Case Western Reserve University, said she avoids the airplane bathroom when she can. "I'm mindful of surfaces, especially the latch on the bathroom door, which everyone uses to open the door, even if they haven't washed their hands," she said. Contaminated airplane water can "wreck your vacation before you even arrive," Knighton said. "I wouldn't want to start a vacation with a stomach bug because of unsafe water exposure," she added. I save £100s with 'secret' airport hack that lets me sneak extra bag on plane - it's completely legal & costs just £1.55 Instead of using the tap, Remo suggests using hand sanitizer after touching luggage, tray tables, or anything in the seat pocket. She added that passengers should wash their hands properly once they land. A former flight attendant speaking to Sanctuary Bathrooms described the loo as "essentially a cupboard, with no clean air." "There is no window and the air ventilation is poor," she said. "You could also be breathing in potential faeces particles, circulating the air after a toilet flush," said Knighton. She also warned against brushing your teeth onboard, since the water is often unfiltered and comes from the same tanks. "Use bottled water but my main piece of advice would be, do not take your toothbrush or wash bag anywhere near an airplane loo," she said. Passengers were urged to hover over the seat instead of sitting on it and, in general, to keep their shoes on while on the plane. KEEP SHOES AND STOCKINGS ON "Due to the high chance of unbalance and people missing the toilet bowl, there could be urine on the floor," Knighton said. "If you carried this from your sock into your shoe and back into your home – that would be incredibly unhygienic." She also urged travelers to shower as soon as they land. Knighton said she always used to hop in the shower immediately after returning home from work. "As soon as you arrive at your destination, put your clothes in the wash and have a good scrub," she said. "I always used to shower straight after work and sometimes the water would turn brown."
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Travel + Leisure
27-05-2025
- Health
- Travel + Leisure
The Gross Reason You Shouldn't Wash Your Hands in Airplane Bathrooms
Flying is, without question, a modern marvel. The science, the engineering, and the service that goes into making your flight safe and special deserve all the praise in the world. However, two things can be true at once: flying can be fantastic and it can also be gross. That said, it may surprise you to learn that one of the grossest things you can do on a plane is wash your hands. It's well-documented that planes can be pretty dirty. As several flight attendants previously told Travel + Leisure , places like tray tables, overhead bins, and instruction cards can be rather dirty. But the airplane bathroom is the place where you should be the most cautious of all. "The toilets are regularly cleaned, but the locks and door handles are not," Josephine Remo, a flight attendant and travel blogger, shared. However, some experts say you should take things one step further and avoid the water in the bathrooms altogether—including never, ever drinking it, and maybe even skipping washing your hands with it, too. In a 2017 peer-reviewed study published in the Annals of Microbiology, researchers sampled 60 ice cubes from both domestic and industrial facilities that made ice for aircraft, finding they contained more than 50 different strains of bacteria. "A consistent percentage of the microorganisms identified from ice are known agents of human infections, and their presence indicates an environmental contamination,' the researchers added. 'My takeaway from doing the research was to not drink the coffee and the tea. At all,' Charles Platkin, the author of the study and the executive director of the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center, previously told T+L. And, just as his team wrote in the findings, Platkin stated, 'I don't wash my hands either. I have wipes that I use." Platkin isn't alone. Shanina Knighton, a research associate professor at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University, added, when using the bathroom, she's "mindful of surfaces, especially the latch on the bathroom door, which everyone uses to open the door—even if they haven't washed their hands." She added: "I try to avoid the restroom if possible, but on longer flights, it's sometimes unavoidable, and those little hygiene habits help me stay protected." Knighton said there are plenty of studies showing that water from airplane taps can carry bacteria, as "onboard water tanks aren't cleaned as frequently as you might think." These contaminants, Knighton noted, can wreck your vacation before you even arrive. "I wouldn't want to start a vacation with a stomach bug because of unsafe water exposure." So, what can you do instead? Remo said, "It's a good idea for passengers to use hand sanitizer after stowing away their luggage, touching anything in the seat pocket in front of them, and going to the bathroom." Then, give your hands a good scrub when you land.
