If those cancelled flights made you feel safer on American Airlines, think again
It’s only been five months since that horrendous travel week in late March when American Airlines canceled hundreds of flights with their MD80 airplanes, stranding some passengers for days — especially at Dallas/Ft Worth airport.
But at least there was the consolation of knowing that American was really erring on the side of passenger safety. Or was it?
On Thursday, the Federal Aviation Administration announced it will fine American Airlines $7.1 million for continuing to fly airliners after safety problems were reported and for drug-testing violations.
The FAA claims the airline “delayed repairs on two MD-83s after problems were reported with their autopilot systems and flew them 58 times in violation of federal regulations.”
The FAA believes the large total amount of the fine for these violations is appropriate because American Airlines was aware that appropriate repairs were needed, and instead deferred maintenance. In intentionally continuing to fly the aircraft, the carrier did not follow important safety regulations intended to protect passengers and crew.
The proposed fine includes $2.7 million in civil penalties that were announced in May of this year, for alleged past deficiencies in its drug and alcohol testing programs, and for allegedly operating aircraft in past years without timely inspections of emergency escape path lighting systems. The amount also includes a $1.7 million civil penalty for the testing program violations and $1 million for the lighting inspection violations.
The FAA stated American violated “drug and alcohol testing procedures involving several dozen flight attendants and other employees, only one of which was a pilot.”
The maintenance violations occurred in December 2007, before American grounded the planes for wiring problems last winter.
Southwest Airlines was fined $10.2 million earlier this year for not performing mandatory inspections. They are still negotiating a final penalty, according to FAA spokesman Les Dorr.
American has said they believe the fines are excessive, and will contest them. But there is no notice about the fines on its site, where they are trumpeting their newly signed joint business agreement with Iberia and British Airways.
No word on if their new partners will help pay this fine. But then, we know who will really end up paying for this. Look for a lot more fee hikes on inflight services and baggage. You have to sell a lot of snack boxes to make $7.1 million.
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