American Airlines delays GOP legislature, causes 3 House members to miss votes
An American Airlines pilot gave a rousing pre-flight speech to passengers encouraging morale and courtesy while on board. (Anna Maltezos via Storyful)
Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, blasted American Airlines on Monday after lengthy delays left him and two other members of Congress unable to return to the Capitol in time for House votes.
Miller said the delay caused him and two other lawmakers to miss votes Monday evening, including the final passage of the Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act, which cleared the House by a vote of 267-117. The law will require major online platforms to implement new child protections, including expanded parental controls, restrictions on certain messaging features and disclosures by artificial intelligence chatbots.
In a post on X, Miller blamed the incumbent for repeated performance failures, writing that “three members of Congress will miss votes tonight because of your incompetent flight.”
The Ohio Republican said the plane sat on the tarmac for more than two hours before returning to the gate, where passengers disembarked and returned to the terminal.
JETBLUE CALLS BACK FROM NEWARK, LAGUARDIA AIRPORTS AS THE FLIGHT RETURNS TO FLORIDA
“We’ve been on the tarmac for over two hours and now we’re heading back to the gate. We’re devastated,” Miller wrote.
Miller added that he has resorted to driving from his home state of Ohio to Washington for the past seven months due to ongoing problems with air travel.
Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, attends a Ways and Means Committee hearing on Treasury Department priorities at the Longworth Building on Thursday, June 4, 2026. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent testified. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images/Getty Images)
American Airlines responded publicly to Miller at X, apologizing for the inconvenience.
“We know how important it is to get to your destination on time, and we sincerely apologize for the delay,” the airline wrote. “Our ground team is working hard to get you up and running.”
The US Department of Transportation has approved American Airlines’ request to operate flights to Caracas and Maracaibo, Venezuela, following the removal of the age limit for US carriers. (DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty Images/Getty Images)
According to FlightAware, American Airlines canceled nine flights on Monday and delayed 706 flights – about 19% of its scheduled operations. Airlines around the world ran into nearly 25,000 delays throughout the day.
The incident occurred as airlines prepare for one of the busiest travel times of the year. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen nearly 18.7 million passengers between June 30 and July 6, and more than three million travelers are expected to pass through airport security checkpoints on Thursday alone.
American Airlines will resume nonstop service between Miami and Venezuela after the US Department of Transportation approved an executive order on March 4, 2026, marking the first time an American airline has reinstated flights to the country. (Kevin Carter / Getty Images / Getty Images)
TSA said it has fully staffed security for the Independence Day trip and deployed additional staff and resources to support the high demand for travel related to the 250th anniversary celebrations and the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is being held across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
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FOX Business has reached out to American Airlines for comment.
