About the Foundation
Jonelle's Story. Our Mission.
The Jonelle Flynn Foundation for Cabin Air Safety was established to honor Jonelle's legacy and to advocate for the health and safety of all who travel and work in the skies.
Jonelle Flynn — beloved mother, grandmother, and dedicated flight attendant for 48 years
Jonelle's Story
A 48-year flight attendant, a devoted professional, and the inspiration behind our mission.
"She loved her career and remained committed to it until the very end."
— In loving memory of Jonelle Flynn
Jonelle Flynn dedicated 48 years of her life to serving passengers as a flight attendant. She loved her career and remained committed to it until the very end — flying up until just weeks before her death. Like many aviation professionals, she was exposed to contaminated cabin air during fume events — incidents where toxic fumes from engine oil or hydraulic fluid enter the aircraft cabin through the bleed air system.
Over the course of her nearly five-decade career, Jonelle experienced three separate fume events. Each exposure took a devastating toll on her health, ultimately causing scarring of her lungs — damage that would prove irreversible. Despite knowing the dangers and suffering the consequences, Jonelle never spoke publicly about the health effects she experienced. Like so many in the aviation industry, she feared losing her job if she raised concerns about cabin air safety.
The lung scarring from these fume events ultimately led to Jonelle's passing on January 1st, 2026. She never got the chance to advocate for herself or others who shared her experience. Her son Sean Flynn established The Jonelle Flynn Foundation for Cabin Air Safety to give voice to what his mother could not say — and to speak up for the countless crew members and passengers who remain silent out of fear.
Today, the foundation works directly with unions, aircraft manufacturers, airlines, and regulators to advance cabin air safety standards, improve incident reporting, and ensure that crew members and passengers receive the protections and recognition they deserve. A core part of our mission is to be the voice for those in the industry who are afraid to speak up — so that no one else has to suffer in silence like Jonelle did.
Your donation helps continue the fight for safer cabin air that Jonelle was never able to fight for herself.
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The foundation is led by a dedicated team of advocates, researchers, and aviation professionals committed to cabin air safety.
Our board brings together expertise in aviation safety, public health, medical research, and nonprofit leadership.
Aviation professionals, medical experts, and policy specialists guide our advocacy and research priorities.
A global network of supporters, survivors, and organizations working together for safer skies.
Safety for aircrews and passengers — before, during, and after a fume event.
We advocate for industry-wide policy reform, pioneer preventative measures against fume events, and support research into the long-term health effects of toxic cabin air.
A future where every breath in the sky is safe.
We envision an aviation industry that prioritizes cabin air quality, provides transparent reporting, and ensures that crew and passengers receive the care and recognition they deserve when exposed to toxic air.
Open reporting and honest communication about cabin air risks.
Holding industry and regulators responsible for safety standards.
Supporting those affected by fume events with care and dignity.
Grounding our advocacy in science and documented experience.