Incidents of toxic fumes leaking into airplanes are increasing, WSJ reports

The rates of incidents of fume events reported to the Federal Aviation Administration has been accelerating in recent years, driven largely by leaks in Airbus’s (EADSY) A320 family of jets, Benjamin Katz, John West and Andrew Tangel of The Wall Street Journal reports. According to official reports, these fumes have led to emergency landings, sickened passengers, and impaired pilots’ vision. While most odors are not toxic and effects are often fleeting, some can be longer-lasting and severe, the Journal adds, citing doctors, medical records, and affected crew members. Both Airbus and Boeing (BA) have acknowledged that malfunctions can cause oil and hydraulic fluid to leak into engines or power units, releasing neurotoxins, carbon monoxide and other chemicals into the air.