Beware Of Coffee & Tea On Your Next Flight! In-Flight Beverages Are Not As Safe As You Think

While catching a red-eye flight or travelling back-to-back, coffee and tea often become our biggest saviours. However, drinking these beverages on flights might not be as harmless as it seems. Flight attendants have long shared that in-flight water isn’t always safe, and many avoid drinking coffee during flights. A recent study has now confirmed that the water used to prepare in-flight beverages can contain harmful bacteria, making it unsafe for consumption.

Is It Safe To Drink Coffee On Flights?

Countless social media posts by flight attendants have shared why they avoid drinking coffee onboard, warning passengers that the water used isn’t always safe. Now, a recent, independent study by the Center for Food as Medicine and Longevity has revealed that this might be true!

For the 2026 Airline Water Study, the researchers analysed results from 35,674 water tests. According to The Independent, they conducted these tests over a three-year period, between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2025. The study’s samples were provided by airlines to the US Environmental Protection Agency in compliance with the Aircraft Drinking Water Rule.

Over the three-year study, more than 35,000 water samples from 21 airlines were tested. About 2.7% contained total coliform bacteria, while E. coli was found much less often.

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Things To Keep In Mind

Water on flights comes from storage tanks inside the aircraft rather than from a fresh source. While technically safe to drink, these tanks are difficult to clean, so the water isn’t always completely safe. It’s best to avoid drinking tap water or hot beverages like tea and coffee on flights, as they may carry harmful bacteria.

While many may assume that boiling kills bacteria, that isn’t entirely true. Dr Huma Shaikh shared on Instagram that water on flights is heated only to 70–80°C. While it’s unlikely to cause serious illness, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Stick to bottled water whenever possible, as in-flight water isn’t exactly toxic but isn’t the safest either.

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We hope this information was helpful to you all!

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