Allied Pilots Association Asks Court to Keep 9/11 Cockpit Voice Recording Private; ''Crewmembers' Families Have Already Suffered Tremendously''.

FORT WORTH, Texas -- The Allied Pilots Association (APA), collective bargaining agent for the 13,000 pilots of American Airlines (NYSE:AMR), issued the following statement today at the prospect of airing the cockpit voice recorder tape from United Airlines Flight 93 during the death penalty trial of al-Qaida conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui:

"We respectfully request that U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema reconsider her ruling and keep the tape private. The families of the crewmembers who were murdered on Sept. 11, 2001 have already suffered tremendously, and public release of the tape would only sensationalize and serve no legitimate purpose," said Captain Ralph Hunter, APA President. "Playing the recording in closed session would clearly fulfill the requirement for a full and fair trial. Moreover, any public release would violate privacy promises made by our government to our nation's professional pilots and set an unfortunate precedent where other cockpit voice recordings are concerned."

Founded in 1963, APA is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. There are currently 2,852 American Airlines pilots on furlough. The furloughs began shortly after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Also, several hundred American Airlines pilots are on full-time military leave of absence serving in the armed forces. The union's Web site address is www.alliedpilots.org American Airlines is the nation's largest passenger carrier.