Unfounded? have you been living in a hole?
The tail literally came off an American A300 in flight. All that was left were the mounting bolts.
Check it out for yourself
http://www.ntsb.gov/events/2001/AA587/default.htm
http://www.airsafe.com/events/aa587.htm
http://www.airdisaster.com/cvr/aa587.shtml