Organs and biological material (e.g., bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cells) are transported via commercial airline virtually every day. Recent changes in organ allocation and distribution policies result in broader geographic sharing of donor organs, which means a higher percentage of organs will be transported over longer distances. 

Can organs be transported via commercial airlines? 

Yes. Under the regulatory frameworks of the FAA, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the transportation of organs through security checkpoints and on airplanes is permitted. There are no statutory or regulatory barriers preventing organ transportation above wing (in the passenger cabin). There are no specific restrictions (outside of standard size, weight, and securement) regarding the placement of the organ within the airplane. The decision to permit organ/biological material transport above wing (in the passenger cabin) or below wing (in the cargo compartment), along with any related policies or procedures, is left to the discretion of each individual airline.

Does the FAA have published guidance on transporting organs via commercial airlines? 

Yes. The FAA published an InFO with advisory guidance for airlines regarding the transport of organs in the passenger cabin of an aircraft.  

Are there identified best practices for organ transport via commercial airlines? 

Yes. The FAA established the Organ Transport Working Group in 2024, in accordance with Section 1102 of the FAA Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2024. The Working Group’s final report includes recommendations for improving the organ transport process in the following areas: access, education, logistics, communication, and reporting. The full report can be found here. 

The FAA led the working group with support from the Department of Transportation (DOT); Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Transportation Security Administration (TSA); and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Members included stakeholders from across the transplant community and aviation industry.

Are there any airport security considerations?

Yes. Organs are considered “cargo” under FAA and TSA regulatory frameworks whether transported above wing (in the passenger cabin) or below wing (in the cargo compartment). Organs are permitted through airport security checkpoints. Fragile medical materials consist of, but are not limited to, blood, human organs, bone marrow, skin, human embryos, and eyeballs. Medical couriers can request assistance from a supervisor or Passenger Support Specialist (PSS) upon arrival at the checkpoint.

For more information on the screening process, please visit the TSA Cares website and expand the Fragile Medical Materials (Human Organ Transport) tab.

Where can I learn more about the transport of organs?

The Organ Procurement & Transplantation Network (OPTN) is a public-private partnership overseen by HRSA that links all professionals involved in the U.S. donation, procurement, and transplantation system. HRSA provides additional information about organ and vessel packaging, labeling, shipping, and storage on the OPTN website.

Contact Us

Federal Aviation Administration
Air Transportation Division, Room # 834
800 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20591
Phone: (202) 267-8166
Fax: (202) 267-5229
Email: 9-AFS-200-Correspondence@faa.gov