Hundreds of pilots are volunteering to fly patients across state lines as part of an initiative to make reproductive healthcare accessible for those living in states where it is not allowed.
The initiative to recruit pilots and pair them with patients is coordinated by an Illinois based non-profit organization. The patients are referred to the organizations by their doctors.
Hundreds of successful missions have been achieved by the initiative.
According to The Guardian, 870 pilots have offered to volunteer their services, which involves transporting people in small planes from states that have not legalized abortion to states that have.
According to the newspaper, there was a significant increase in volunteer pilots after the Supreme Court's decision. As a result of the decision to strip federal protections, most abortions are now banned in at least 13 states, which has led to an increased number of women needing to travel out of state.
Steven, one of the many volunteer pilots, told The Guardian that he flew a stranger 1000 miles across state lines to help them access reproductive healthcare.
The leak of the Supreme Court decision in May led to him getting involved. He told the newspaper that when he read that it sounded like he could be useful as a pilot.
According to The Guardian, traveling across state lines can be expensive, risky, and time consuming.
The costs of travel, gas, hotels, and time off can make an out-of-state abortion expensive. It can cause one to lose their job.
The trips are free for passengers and the flying costs are covered by the volunteers. The newspaper said that passengers remained anonymous.
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