American Airlines Pilots Flag Safety Concerns Over Maintenance Issues, Pressures to Meet Flight Schedules

• American Airlines pilots union warned of "significant spike" in safety and maintenance issues • Issues included tools left in wheel wells, increased aircraft collisions on ground, poor recordkeeping • Union said employees appear under pressure to return planes to service to maintain flight schedules • Union met with airline management, secured commitment to improve safety risk assessment process • American Airlines stated that safety is top priority and it has robust safety program and culture