Ted Cruz Presses Trump to Back Pilot Retirement Age Extension at UN Meeting
Senator Ted Cruz is urging President Trump to endorse a plan to raise the mandatory airline pilot retirement age from 65 to 67 at the UN aviation summit in Montreal. Backed by IATA and several nations, the proposal aims to ease a growing pilot shortage. Pilot unions and safety advocates warn that age‑related health decline could jeopardize safety. Congress previously turned down a similar move in 2024, keeping the current cap at 65 under FAR Part 121.