Management can certainly create conditions conducive to crashing planes.

But Pilots are responsible for not crashing planes if it's at all within their control, and that includes not accepting unsat operating conditions from management. Sometimes that simply means refusing a plane or flight based on MX or conditions. Other times it means the pilot group as a whole must apply pressure to management... that can be organized via union leadership, or grass roots via an asap campaign (which the FAA is cc'ed on).

That's the US 121 model, overseas the pilots are often simply along for the ride, and can be terminated instantly at the slightest hint of non-compliance with higher direction.

In both cases the airplane mfgs and regulatory agencies have to do their part... it's possible for pilots to be given a plane which simply can't be flown safely.