US aviation officials said on Thursday they were seeking US$7.1 million from American Airlines for continuing to fly planes after safety problems were reported and for drug-testing violations.
The airline delayed repairs on two MD-80s — a mid-sized aircraft — after problems were reported with their autopilot systems and flew them 58 times in violation of regulations, the Federal Aviation Administration (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,” it said.
The largest fine FAA has ever proposed against an airline was US$10.2 million against Southwest Airlines in March for flying its planes without performing mandatory inspections, FAA spokesman Les Dorr said.
The FAA and Southwest are still negotiating a final penalty.
American released a statement calling the fine “excessive” and saying it intends to contest it.
“We do not agree with the FAA’s findings and characterizations of American’s action in these cases,” the airline said.
“In accordance with FAA procedures for handling these matters, we have requested to meet with the FAA after we have had time to thoroughly review their findings, so that we may discuss the issues. Since these matters are ongoing with the FAA, we will not have any further comment at this time,” it said.
On Dec. 11 and Dec. 12, American delayed maintenance to the autopilot system of one of the MD-80s and flew the plane eight more times in airspace where planes are allowed to group more closely together, violating FAA regulations, Dorr said.
An FAA inspector discovered the violations and informed American, but the airline sent the plane on 10 more flights carrying passengers until the problem was finally fixed on Dec. 17, the agency said.
Also in December, during the busy Christmas travel season, the autopilot on a different American MD-80 disconnected. Though mechanics correctly identified the problem, they improperly delayed maintenance again and the airliner made four flights without a fully functioning autopilot, the FAA said.
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