WASHINGTON – The Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday it is seeking $7.1 million from American Airlines for continuing to fly airlines after safety problems were reported and for drug-testing violations.
The Texas-based airline delayed repairs on two MD-80’s after problems were reported with their autopilot systems and flew them 58 times in violations of federal regulations, the FAA said.
“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,” the agency said in a statement. “In intentionally continuing to fly the aircraft, the carrier did not follow important safety regulations intended to protect passengers and crew.”
The largest fine FAA has ever proposed against an airline was $10.2 million against Southwest Airlines in March for flying airplanes without performing mandatory inspections.
The FAA is also seeking fines against American for violating drug and alcohol testing procedures involving several dozen flight attendants and other employees, only one of which was a pilot, Dorr said.
The airline also did not make timely inspections of its emergency lighting systems inside aircraft for several years, the agency said.
American is one of the world’s largest airlines, with 60,000 flights a month.
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