Appeal court rejects pilot’s ADHD-related insurance claim
Friday 16th October 2026 on 19:16 in
Iceland
A former pilot who lost his medical certificate after being diagnosed with ADHD has failed to secure nearly ISK 79 million in insurance compensation from his former employer, Atlanta, mbl.is reported. The Court of Appeal upheld a lower court ruling that the evidence did not establish his entitlement to the payment.
The man had worked for the airline for nearly two decades. Atlanta dismissed him in 2022 over incidents involving alcohol use during work trips. He later sought help and was diagnosed with ADHD in February 2023.
At his annual medical examination that month, a flight doctor refused to renew the medical certificate required for work as a commercial pilot because of the diagnosis and his medication. The Icelandic Transport Authority later confirmed that he did not meet the requirements for a certificate.
The man said several people had suggested since 2011 that he might have ADHD. He described feeling more settled and better able to control impulsive behaviour after starting Elvanse. A psychological assessment noted his long-standing difficulty controlling alcohol use; he attributed it to impulsivity and poor self-control rather than addiction.
The court case examined whether the diagnosis was sufficiently supported. The man had been referred to a psychiatrist through his mother, who knew the doctor, and received the diagnosis and prescription after one 90-minute appointment.
A court-appointed assessor found significant shortcomings in the diagnostic process. The assessment did not include a detailed developmental and medical history, recommended diagnostic tools were not used, and other possible explanations for the symptoms were not adequately examined. Other treatment options were also not considered before medication began.
The man argued that he had lost his professional licence because of his health and was therefore entitled to payment under pilots’ collective agreement provisions for licence insurance. A new psychological assessment submitted to the Court of Appeal said he showed symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. The court found that this was not enough to prove an illness covered by the agreement.
The Court of Appeal therefore upheld the Reykjanes District Court’s decision and cleared the former employer of the claim. The man was also ordered to pay ISK 600,000 in legal costs for the appeal.