FAA Publishes Organ Transport Working Group Final Report

On May 12, 2025, the Federal Aviation Administration released the Organ Transport Working Group Final Report, culminating nearly a year of collaboration among transplant leaders, airlines, TSA, and federal agencies. This comprehensive report offers a detailed examination of current practices in transporting organs via commercial flights and outlines actionable recommendations to enhance the process.

The Organ Transport Working Group Final Report comes at an important time. As organ sharing has expanded beyond regional boundaries, more organs are being flown longer distances. That shift has made air transport not just helpful but essential.

The report focuses specifically on above-wing transport - that is, organs brought into the passenger cabin with a courier. While this method is allowed, the lack of standardized protocols has led to inconsistent practices across airlines and airports.

📌 A few takeaways:

- After 9/11, the introduction of TSA and tighter security rules made unaccompanied cabin transport uncommon, mainly due to chain-of-custody and liability concerns.
- Airline and airport teams don’t always have clear training or procedures for handling organ shipments.
- Most organs still fly below wing (in cargo), which poses challenges too- especially around timing, access, and visibility

Rather than just pointing out issues, the report lays out 20 practical recommendations across five key areas:

✅ Access - ensuring priority handling, even on full flights
✅ Education - training TSA, airline crews, and dispatch
✅ Logistics - standardizing packaging, labeling, and notification
✅ Communication - making policies public and coordination easier
✅ Reporting - collecting national data to improve performance

The Organ Transport Working Group Final Report reflects the growing role of air travel in organ transplantation and the need for more consistent, coordinated processes across airlines, airports, couriers, and federal agencies.

At its core, the report recognizes that those on the front lines - couriers, TSA officers, dispatchers, and flight crews - are doing their best. Its goal is to equip them with the tools, clarity, and structure needed to move organs safely, efficiently, and with the urgency these missions demand.

Read a full report here.