diff --git a/backend/app/api/v1/pilot.py b/backend/app/api/v1/pilot.py
index 7ff2b4e4..a925b86f 100644
--- a/backend/app/api/v1/pilot.py
+++ b/backend/app/api/v1/pilot.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import logging
 from typing import Annotated, Any, Literal
 
 from fastapi import APIRouter, Depends, Request
-from pydantic import BaseModel, EmailStr, Field
+from pydantic import BaseModel, Field
 from sqlalchemy import text
 from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
 
@@ -25,7 +25,10 @@ router = APIRouter()
 class PilotRequestInput(BaseModel):
     name: str = Field(min_length=2, max_length=200)
     phone: str | None = Field(default=None, max_length=50)
-    email: EmailStr | None = None
+    # Note: was EmailStr but `email-validator` package not in deps → ImportError
+    # on backend startup → container unhealthy → whole deploy fails. Using plain
+    # str + minimal regex; full validation can happen on frontend/CRM side.
+    email: str | None = Field(default=None, max_length=200, pattern=r"^[^@\s]+@[^@\s]+\.[^@\s]+$")
     company: str | None = Field(default=None, max_length=200)
     message: str | None = Field(default=None, max_length=2000)
     source: Literal["landing", "analyze_page", "other"] = "landing"