American Airlines pilots say there's been a 'significant spike' in safety problems

An American Airlines Boeing 737. CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images

• The Allied Pilots Association says safety problems are increasing at American Airlines.
• It said incidents include tools left in wheel wells and increased collisions between towed planes.
• United Airlines has faced increased oversight from regulators, which American will want to avoid.

The union for American Airlines pilots has warned that safety problems are increasing at the carrier.

In a Saturday statement, the Allied Pilots Association said it “has been tracking a significant spike in safety- and maintenance-related problems in our operation.”

It listed incidents like tools being left in wheel wells, and more collisions between towed or tugged aircraft.

The APA also said some maintenance actions hadn’t been closed out properly, and there were increased intervals between inspections.

“Remember: Don’t rush, don’t be intimidated, and don’t be pressured into doing something that doesn’t pass the ‘smell test,'” the union told pilots. “Just because it’s legal doesn’t make it safe.”

The union encouraged its members to speak up and report any issues: “As the last link in the safety chain, our passengers and crew depend on us to be the strongest link in that chain.”

It also referenced recent problems at United Airlines. A series of safety events — like a tire falling off a Boeing 777 — have seen regulators ramp up their oversight of the carrier.

“While United Airlines is currently under public and government scrutiny, it could just as easily be American Airlines,” the APA said.

United’s share price fell 3.4% after the Federal Aviation Administration announced the move last month, Reuters reported. So, avoiding similar actions from the FAA will be important for American.

Two days after the memo, the APA’s president, Ed Sicher, said the union’s safety committee had met with senior management to discuss the issues earlier this month.

“APA is squarely focused on finding solutions — which will require collaboration between the union and management — and management’s initial response to our concerns was encouraging,” he added.

An American Airlines spokesperson told Business Insider: “Safety at any airline is a shared mission and it’s especially true at American. Our robust safety program is guided by our industry-leading safety management system.”

They added: “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.”

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