The pilots union at American Airlines is sounding the alarm over a concerning uptick in safety and maintenance issues plaguing the airline.
According to a memo, the Allied Pilots Association’s Safety Committee has observed a worrying trend, including instances of tools being left in wheel wells following maintenance work, an increase in ground collisions during towing operations, inadequate recordkeeping, and abbreviated check flights post-maintenance.
The memo underscored the gravity of the situation, cautioning that while United Airlines currently faces public and governmental scrutiny, American Airlines could just as easily find itself in the spotlight. The union expressed concern that airline personnel may feel pressured to expedite aircraft return-to-service procedures to maintain flight schedules.
In a separate letter obtained by USA TODAY, APA President Ed Sicher disclosed that union representatives have engaged with American’s management to address these pressing concerns.
Sicher’s letter outlined progress made, including management’s commitment to involve the union earlier in safety risk assessments and efforts to ensure the APA’s involvement throughout the quality assurance process. The letter also urged members to continue utilizing internal reporting mechanisms to report safety or maintenance-related incidents.
Responding to inquiries from USA TODAY, American Airlines reiterated its unwavering commitment to safety, emphasizing that it remains a paramount concern for the company.
“Safety at any airline is a shared mission and it’s especially true at American,” the statement said. “Our robust safety program is guided by our industry-leading safety management system. It includes a multitude of collaborative programs – and regular touchpoints – with the FAA and all our unions, including APA, to further bolster our strong safety record and enhance our ever-evolving safety culture.”
