American Airlines has been hit with the largest fine in history for safety violations which may cause customers pause before using the carrier. The $24.2 million civil penalty addressing American Airlines’ failure to properly inspect wire bundles in the wheel wells of its MD-80 aircraft.
The carrier did not follow a 2006 Airworthiness Directive and risked the wires shorting and causing a loss of power and possible fire.
The failure resulted in April 2008 in a massive grounding of 1,000 flights. The resulting inspection found that American operated 286 of its MD-80s “while the aircraft were not in compliance with federal regulations.”
American opposed the proposed fine and insists that “[w]e will challenge any proposed civil penalty. We are confident we have a strong case and the facts will bear this out.”
While fighting the FAA on the safety violations, American is moving forward with a new plan to charge passengers more for sitting in coach but closer to the front door — yet another added fee from airlines.
Source: CNN
Good information. Lucky me I discovered your site by
accident (stumbleupon). I’ve saved it for later!
The fine should be 2 or 3 times that amount. I just can’t imagine how many people risked their lives because of this company’s negligence or arrogance.
frankdawg
1, August 27, 2010 at 11:16 am
but come on people! Look at all the benefits St. Ronnies liberation of airlines from regulation have given us! You can now fly from Podunk to Paduka for $185, or $785 or somewhere in between. The fact that it is less pleasant, less safe and much less enjoyable than taking the Grayhound should be ignored for the glories of the “free market”
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anti-free-market, pinko commie … my kind of guy!
but come on people! Look at all the benefits St. Ronnies liberation of airlines from regulation have given us! You can now fly from Podunk to Paduka for $185, or $785 or somewhere in between. The fact that it is less pleasant, less safe and much less enjoyable than taking the Grayhound should be ignored for the glories of the “free market”
“American is moving forward with a new plan to charge passengers more for sitting in coach but closer to the front door — yet another added fee from airlines.”
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As in “we gotcher mohneeeeeeey and we gotch you! But if you give us MORE money we’ll let you have a better chance of gettin the hell off this crate before everyone else in case it looks like we aint gonna make it … 8)
Rather than a fine, the government should force AA to use the money on maintenance of their planes. If the maintenance does not cover $24.2 million then make AA pay the balance to the government as a fine. The money should go for the actual maintenance, not the alleged lost revenues for grounding a plane. They can eat those lost revenues for not doing the right thing!
Are you sure Blackwater/Xe does not have the contract with the CIA to run AA?
With a name like “American Airlines” one now expects negligent safety practices, corporatist flaunting of the rule of law and greed run amok.
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You’ll notice the Captain has put on the “No Smoking” light. Please fasten your seatbelts. Make sure your tray tables are stowed and your seat in the uptight, er, Right position.
Welcome to the Fascist States of America, fully purchased since January 20, 1981.
On behalf of the corporation, we hope you’ve enjoyed your flight today, but if you can’t buy and service your own private jet, you’re lazy, should be drug tested and fuck you.
We know you have the illusion of choice in air carriers, so thank you for thinking of “us”. Because “you” simply don’t matter anymore.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again … take the train.
Hopefully under the Obama Administration they will actually have to pay it.