American Airlines Mechanic Azriel 'Al' Blackman Dies at 100 After 80-Year Career

American Airlines mechanic Azriel "Al" Blackman, the Guinness World Records holder for the longest career as an airline mechanic, has died at the age of 100.

More than 80 years with one airline

According to announcements shared by American Airlines and members of the aircraft maintenance community on social media, Blackman died on the evening of Friday, July 24. His career spanned more than 80 years and was tied entirely to a single carrier, witnessing the industry's transformation from flying boats to modern twin-engine widebodies.

American Airlines described him as a "true aviation legend", pointing to his commitment, professionalism and the mentorship that shaped generations of technicians. The airline added that his impact went well beyond maintenance, making him one of the most respected employees in its history.

1942: 50 cents an hour and flying boats

Blackman began on July 17, 1942, joining American Export Airlines — a predecessor of American Airlines — at just 16 years old. Fresh out of Aviation High School in Manhattan, he needed his mother's permission to take the job and started as an apprentice in the sheet metal shop, earning 50 cents per hour.

His first assignments were at New York's LaGuardia Marine Air Terminal, where he helped maintain Sikorsky flying boats, sometimes wading into Flushing Bay to secure seaplanes before they were hauled into the hangar. Over the following decades he worked on virtually every aircraft type American operated, culminating with the Boeing 777 fleet. He served as an Aviation Maintenance Technician Crew Chief based at New York John F. Kennedy International Airport and became a mentor to younger mechanics.

The 777-200 that carried his name

In 2017, on his 75th anniversary with the company, American Airlines dedicated a Boeing 777-200 to him, registration N751AN, with a commemorative plaque recognising the longest career in aviation history as an Aviation Maintenance Technician. Mechanics nicknamed the aircraft "7BK", and Guinness World Records officials attended the ceremony to formally recognise the record. The airline also arranged for a US Capitol flag to be flown in his honour.

Blackman kept working for another five years, celebrating an astonishing 80 years with the airline in 2022 — an achievement with few parallels anywhere in commercial aviation.

"When you like what you do, it's not work"

Even in his later years his routine reflected that dedication: although his official shift began at 5:00 a.m., he typically arrived at the hangar before 3:00 a.m. His late wife Delores reportedly joked that he should "go to work" and "play with your friends", as reported by Aviation Circle. On the airline's website, Blackman summed up his own attitude: "When you like what you do, it's not work."