Excerpt
GWEN IFILL (Newshour): The week's not even halfway over and it's been an ugly one for American Airlines, as it faces growing questions about its flights, its labor problems and its very future.
These are turbulent times for the nation's third-largest passenger airline. In just the last few weeks, American Airlines has delayed or canceled hundreds of flights. American accused pilots of conducting an illegal work slowdown. The pilots union denied it. But on top of that, three flights were grounded after rows of seats came loose.
That's a tiny fraction of American's daily schedule, but the problem grabbed national attention. One passenger, who didn't want to be identified, described an incident on a flight from Boston to Miami.
WOMAN: The seats flipped backwards. And so people were essentially on the laps of the passenger behind them with their legs up in the air.
GWEN IFILL: American blamed improperly installed clamps and promised new inspections.
All of this comes amid a long-running contract struggle with the airline's 7,500 active pilots. There's been no strike, but the pilots have conducted informational picketing, calling for new management.
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