American Airlines fined $7M for safety violations
Government regulators cite the airline for maintenance issues and problems with its drug- and alcohol-testing programs.
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Federal regulators announced Thursday they will seek fines totaling $7.1 million against American Airlines over maintenance issues and problems with its drug- and alcohol-testing programs.
"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 Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement announcing the decision. "In intentionally continuing to fly the aircraft, the carrier did not follow important safety regulations intended to protect passengers and crew."
American can contest the proposed fines, the FAA said. There was no immediate reaction from the Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier to Thursday's announcement.
Nearly $4.5 million of the proposed fines stem from American's continued operation of two MD-83 jetliners in December 2007, after pilots reported problems with the autopilot systems, the FAA said. One of those aircraft flew more than 50 times before the problems were traced to a separate piece of radio gear.
In both cases, mechanics correctly diagnosed the problems, only to have the airline use the wrong provisions of its minimum equipment list to have the planes returned to service.
Regulators also accuse American (AMR, Fortune 500) of operating planes without timely inspections of their emergency lighting systems and of unspecified "past deficiencies" regarding drug and alcohol testing. 
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