Azriel Blackman, who spent eight decades working as an aircraft mechanic primarily for American Airlines, died on July 24 at a nursing home in Queens. He was 100 years old.

Blackman's career, spanning from the early 1940s until recent years, earned him recognition as the longest-serving airline mechanic in history. He began his work in 1942 at the age of 16, starting as an apprentice at American Export Airlines, a precursor to American Airlines, at New York Municipal Airport—now LaGuardia Airport. Over the decades, he maintained and repaired a wide range of aircraft, from the amphibious Sikorsky flying boats of the 1930s to modern commercial jets including the Boeing 747 and the Boeing 777.

Born in Manhattan on August 30, 1925, Blackman grew up in Brooklyn. His father, Aaron Blackman, was a Russian-born tailor, and his mother, Mary Goldberg Blackman, emigrated from Poland. After graduating from Aviation High School in Manhattan, he joined the military during the Korean War, where he repaired helicopters for Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals. Following his military service, he returned to American Airlines, eventually becoming a maintenance crew chief at New York International Airport, later renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Throughout his lengthy career, Blackman was known for his skill and dedication. He was able to fabricate parts and perform a variety of maintenance tasks, contributing essential behind-the-scenes work that ensured the safety and readiness of countless flights. Colleagues described him as highly proficient, adaptable, and passionate about aviation.

In 2012, on the 70th anniversary of his tenure, American Airlines honored Blackman with a mural at the JFK maintenance hangar, featuring him surrounded by significant aircraft he had worked on over the years. Five years later, Guinness World Records formally recognized his record-setting career, and the airline dedicated a Boeing 777-200 bearing his name.

Despite advancing age and physical limitations—including a fall four years ago that resulted in spinal cord injury and brain trauma—Blackman remained involved with American Airlines. In his later years, his role shifted from physically demanding tasks to mentoring younger mechanics and preserving institutional knowledge. Former American Airlines president Robert L. Crandall praised Blackman’s role as a living repository of the company's maintenance practices.

Outside of his work with American Airlines, Blackman volunteered to help restore historic aircraft at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn and the New England Air Museum in Connecticut. His passion for aviation extended beyond his job, reflecting a lifelong dedication to the field.

Blackman’s family includes his son Mitchell and a granddaughter. His wife, Dolores Cooperstein Blackman, passed away in 2011, and his daughter Adrienne Larrain died earlier this year.

American Airlines, which celebrated its centennial in 2023, recognized Blackman as a living link to the airline’s origins and long history. In 2012, he was given the opportunity to fly over New York City in a restored Douglas DC-3, part of American’s early fleet, an experience that left a lasting impression on him.

“He loved going to work,” his son said. “He considered the people he worked with family, and that was his real reward.”