Tug collision damages American Airlines Airbus A321 in Denver

In recent years, American Airlines has expanded its maintenance operations significantly. A $22 million grant from Oklahoma's Business Expansion Incentive Program allowed for growth at the Tulsa Tech Ops base in late 2024, creating over 300 new jobs. Greg Emerson, Vice President of Base Maintenance and Facilities at American Airlines, stated: "American is excited to grow our talented Technical Operations workforce with more high-paying, skilled aviation maintenance positions."

Aircraft ground damage often results from human error or environmental factors like weather or ramp design. Damage assessment is crucial before an aircraft can resume flight operations. Best practices include slowing operational pace and ensuring thorough training for ground support teams.

American Airlines' commercial airplane maintenance base in Tulsa employs around 5,000 team members, including over 3,200 aviation maintenance technicians. The facility has been integral to the airline's MRO network since 1946. Its engine overhaul shop expects to increase throughput by about 60% this year compared to last year.