Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) took aim at American Airlines on Monday, branding the carrier “incompetent” after flight delays caused him and at least two other House members to miss votes on a major children’s online safety package.
In a post on X, Miller wrote: “Hey @AmericanAir, three members of Congress will miss votes tonight because of your incompetent airline.” He did not name the other lawmakers affected. Miller, who represents Ohio’s northeastern district, said the incident was part of a pattern—he’s been driving to Washington, D.C., for the last seven months to avoid similar disruptions.
“We have been on the tarmac for over two hours and are now going back to the gate. Pathetic,” the two-term congressman added.
The House voted 267-117 to pass a package of online safety measures aimed at protecting children, with 47 members not voting. The lower chamber is set to break for a 10-day recess on Friday ahead of the Fourth of July holiday.
American Airlines responded to Miller on X, saying: “We know how important it is to get where you’re going on time, and we’re truly sorry for the delay. Our ground team is working hard to get you moving soon.” The airline has fielded a wave of complaints Monday, with FlightAware reporting 562 delayed flights and nine cancellations, including two bound for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and two for Miami International Airport.
The travel chaos comes as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expects to screen nearly 18.7 million travelers between June 30 and July 6, with Thursday projected to be the busiest day at over 3 million screenings. TSA acting Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill said the agency is “fully staffed and prepared” for the holiday surge, which coincides with celebrations for America’s 250th birthday and the FIFA World Cup—the U.S. men’s team faces Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Round of 32 on Wednesday.
Miller’s frustration echoes broader GOP criticism of federal agencies and corporate reliability. In a separate development, Senator Tillis recently called passing the SAVE Act before midterms an impossible task, highlighting ongoing legislative gridlock. Meanwhile, a new poll shows 59 million Americans oppose war with Iran as a truce holds, underscoring the political stakes of foreign policy debates.
The missed votes are likely to fuel further scrutiny of airline performance as lawmakers return to Washington. Miller’s decision to drive rather than fly may become a talking point for colleagues frustrated by persistent delays.
