Engines being chucked off the pylons (or indeed the pylons failing entirely) is certainly nothing new...happened before in the early sixties with 707 aircraft.
OTOH, the 'training' AA provided their crews, using the rudder in a manner for which it was NOT intended...has led to disaster.
The lessons learned oh so many years ago have been totally ignored...at least with American Airlines, and the idiots in the flight crew training department.
Need examples?
Just look at the AA hull loss record, and the very basic mistakes made by the AA crew concerned.
Cali was the most egregious, IMO.