Back in March of 2001, when the company locked out the passengers at JFK and claimed that the mechanics were having a 24hour job action that caused the cancellation of 400 flights, I was involved in an accident where a stair truck that was not moved because, unknown to anyone else, management removed the driver of the stair truck and assigned him somewhere else, was hit by an aircraft. The truck was severely damaged as was the 777. These things happen, but before any investigation was done the company called the FBI and said that it was a deliberate act of sabotage. This was the only incident I ever had in 25 years of Taxiing aircraft so when the guys in suits showed up and started questioning me I told them that I had already been questioned by the PAPD. He then informed me that the PAPD was doing an accident investigation but they were doing a criminal investigation. Having never been in an accident I didnt know that this was unusual. Later he informed me that they were FBI, not PAPD and they got a call from AA claiming that this was a deliberate act of sabotage and directed me not to go anywhere. After questioning everyone else he then informed me that the investigation was concluded and that it was clearly an accident.
In another incident the company had a mechanic arrested and spend the night in jail for hitting a time clock. The company had been shorting the guys paycheck claiming that there was no punch time, despite his claim that even after numerous attempts it didnt work. On the night of the incident he had reportedly made over 30 attempts to clock in, on several clocks, when out of fustration he smacked the clock. The company had him removed in handcuffs.
Smack a timeclock get arrested, smack a gate agent or an FA and nothing happens.
Its illegal for a passenger to interfere with a crew member, so the issue is not limited to just assault, therefore the company, as the resposible party for the flight and the safety of all on board, including the crew should pursue incidences where customers assualt employees.
Its clear when comparing their actions in the accident, where they assume the worst prior to any investigation, the timeclock, the numerous gate agent and flight attendant incidences and the suit that Arpey initiated that AA is quick to pursue things when it invloves their property or management but its ok to beat the hell out of their employees.