Mesothelioma & Aircraft Mechanics

The Risks of Asbestos in Aircrafts

Aircraft mechanics are indispensable to our country’s military and commercial aircraft industries. Mechanics who were involved in the repair and overhaul of aircraft between the 1930s and 1990s were at risk of exposure to dangerous asbestos materials, and consequently, terrible diseases such as lung cancer and mesothelioma.

The risk of asbestos exposure for today’s mechanics is minimal, but may be a concern if the aircraft in need of repair was manufactured before the 1990s and still contains asbestos products. Exposure to asbestos can cause serious illnesses like the aggressive cancer mesothelioma.

Call (800) 326-8900 now to see if our asbestos attorneys can help your family secure compensation for mesothelioma. It costs nothing to speak with us.

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Legally Reviewed and Fact Checked by:

Melissa Crowe Schopfer, Partner, Simmons Hanly Conroy

Last updated: September 01, 2026

Asbestos Exposure in the Aerospace Industry

Whether serving onboard a Navy carrier, or working at an Air Force Base, airport, or manufacturing facility, an aircraft mechanic’s work environment may have subjected him or her to significant asbestos exposure.

Spending most of their time in shops and hangers, mechanics often worked or stood shift next to other tradesmen as they maintained and repaired equipment containing hazardous asbestos materials.

The replacement of asbestos-containing brake pads was a particularly dusty, hazardous, and all too common duty of these mechanics. They would also handle asbestos-containing packing and gaskets in engines and other parts of the aircraft.

Further tasks associated with asbestos exposure risk include the installation of insulation around engines and electrical components.

Companies Responsible for Aircraft Mechanic Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos was a go-to material for the production of aviation products because of its heat resistance, durability and affordability. These qualities made it ideal for protecting aircraft components from fire and other sources of heat.

While the list of asbestos companies who knowingly exposed aircraft mechanics to asbestos is quite long, one of the most well-known is the Johns Manville Corporation.

Founded in 1858, Johns Manville produced a variety of asbestos products ranging from roofing and insulation to gaskets and cement.

Common Aerospace Products Containing Asbestos

Prior to the 1980s and 1990s, asbestos was found in several aircraft components and equipment used to repair aircraft may also have contained asbestos. For example, aerospace adhesives and epoxies, used as structural bonding agents between aircraft pieces or for filling dents and surface imperfections, may have contained the dangerous toxin.

Torque valves
Gaskets
Flexible Insulating Tape
Asbestos Packing
Asbestos Blankets
Asbestos Cloth
Asbestos Tubing
Friction Materials
Refractory Fiber Felt
Molded Brake Blocks
Insulated Engine Shrouds
Asbestos Sheets
Firewall Seals and Fabrics
Thermal Insulation Material
Acoustical Insulating Material
Foil Insulating Tape
Firesleeves
Molded Insulation/Reinforced Plastics
Brake Assemblies
Body Fillers
Engine Mounts
Engine Heat Shields
Phenolic Laminates
Honeycomb Structures

Mesothelioma Lawsuits for Aircraft Mechanics

As a leading national mesothelioma law firm, Simmons Hanly Conroy has worked to represent mesothelioma victims and their families for over 25 years.

Our mesothelioma lawyers are committed to pursuing justice for mechanics who were exposed to asbestos on the job. We treat our clients with the respect and personalized attention they deserve.

If you believe you or a loved one has been experiencing mesothelioma symptoms related to mechanics’ asbestos exposure, please fill out the form below to schedule a free legal consultation with one of our experienced mesothelioma lawyers.

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Reviewed by:Melissa Crowe Schopfer

Partner, Simmons Hanly Conroy

Fact-Checked
Legal Reviewer

Melissa is an asbestos trial team leader at Simmons Hanly Conroy. Over the past two decades, she has worked on more than 1,000 cases and helped recover over $100 million on behalf of individuals and families impacted by mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases, representing clients in nearly every state. Melissa has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America^® for her work in product liability and personal injury litigation. She is a recipient of the Missouri Lawyers Weekly Women’s Justice Award, Chicago Law’s Top 40 Attorneys Under 40, and the Women of PALS Award, and has been invited to present at national seminars.