Feature Stories

Hefty Fine Imposed on American Airlines

The Federal Aviation Administration announced that American Airlines has been slapped with $7.1 million in fines over problems with maintenance and drug testing. The majority of the fine is a result of the airline's failure to make timely repairs on its fleet of MD-80 series jets. The report issued by the FAA states that one of the MD-80 jets in question flew more than 50 times before repairs were made as prescribed by the agency's airworthiness directive. The initial repair on that jet was not to specifications and the aircraft was sent back to the maintenance hangar for a second repair. The Airline has not issued a response to the fines imposed today by the FAA. Regulators say part of the fine is also related to deficiencies in the airline's drug testing program.