(FORTUNE Magazine) – After a series of mishaps involving American Airlines, the Federal Aviation Administration -- under attack for inadequate efforts to improve air safety -- launched a full-scale investigation into the airline's maintenance procedures (FORTUNE, October 14). A three-month probe revealed 26 maintenance violations, and the FAA slapped American with a $1.5-million fine -- the largest in aviation history. American, which paid the fine without admitting guilt, says it has corrected all the deficiencies and that despite the negative publicity, traffic has not dropped off.