"American Airlines Pilots Union Raises Alarm Over Safety Spike"

The Allied Pilots Association (APA) has warned American Airlines pilots of a "significant spike" in safety- and maintenance-related problems, including tools left in wheel wells, increased aircraft collisions during towing, and pressure to return aircraft to maintain on-time performance due to a lack of spares. The union has raised concerns about these issues and secured management's commitment to involve the union earlier in the safety risk assessment process. American Airlines stated that safety is a shared mission and highlighted its safety management system, while the FAA requires all U.S. airlines to have Safety Management Systems. The APA urged pilots not to rush or be intimidated and emphasized the importance of prioritizing safety over speed.