American Airlines 'truly sorry' after Ohio congressman rages about delay
American Airlines apologized to Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) on Monday after he complained that delayed flights caused three lawmakers to miss votes in Congress.
Miller took to social media to blast the airline this week, saying, “three members of Congress will miss votes tonight because of your incompetent airline.” One of those votes included the final passage of the Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act, which cleared the House by a 267-117 vote, with 47 members not voting.
In response, American Airlines publicly apologized to the Ohio Republican in a post to X, saying its “team is working hard to get you moving soon.”
“We know how important it is to get where you’re going on time, and we’re truly sorry for the delay,” the airline wrote.
In his enraged post slamming the airline, Miller said the delays showed why he has chosen driving over flying in the past.
“I have been driving to DC for the last 7 months because of this,” he complained. “We have been on the tarmac for over two hours and are now going back to the gate. Pathetic.
American Airlines delayed 727 flights on Monday, or 19% of its scheduled operations, according to flight-tracking site FlightAware.
The delays come after the airline said in May it was preparing for a summer of historic travel. From May 21 through Sept. 8, the airline expects to onboard 75 million customers across 750,000 flights, “smashing its previous record set in 2019.”
More than 72 million people are expected to travel over the week of the July Fourth alone, setting a new record, according to AAA. That number includes the 8.1 million passengers American Airlines expects to fly on 80,000 flights during holiday travel between June 25 and July 6, marking a nearly 10% increase over last year.
The Transportation Security Administration is prepared to screen 18.7 million air travelers between June 30 and July 6.
“We’re thrilled so many passengers are planning travel to enjoy America’s milestone 250th birthday and celebrate the greatest nation on earth,” TSA senior official Ha Nguyen McNeill said. “TSA security checkpoints are fully staffed and prepared to welcome these travelers and handle the large passenger volumes expected during the Fourth of July holiday period.”
Many are traveling to Washington, D.C., where officials are planning a host of festivities around July 4, which promises to be especially grand this year as the country marks 250 years of independence. Organizers are looking to break world records with a fireworks show on the National Mall, while the Great American State Fair also promises to be a draw. Throughout the summer, 50 million visitors are estimated to inject millions into the local economy, up from the estimated 27.2 million people who visited D.C. in 2025, according to WJLA.
“As we look at the events with America’s 250 and the events that this Trump administration is bringing to the city, it has been positive for the industry,” Destination DC CEO Elliott Ferguson said on Tuesday.