Kohen on a Plane With Cadaver

Question

Dear Rabbi,

Is there a problem with a kohen flying on a plane transporting a dead body? Truth is, passengers usually don’t know the plane has one. The one time I found out was when a plane I was on landed and they announced they were stopping to ceremoniously drop off the body of a soldier killed while on duty. That soldier was not likely Jewish. But all airlines, El Al included, do transport corpses, usually without letting passengers know.

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Answers

  1. The Just Ask! - AskTheRabbi.org Team

    There are differing opinions among the Halachic Authorities. Rav Moshe Feinstein rules that it is forbidden to fly in an airplane that the Kohen knows that there is a dead body on board. However, Rav Shlomo Amar, rules that the cargo compartment of the plane is Halachically considered to be a completely separate section and there is no prohibition against a Kohen flying on such a airplane.

    Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team