Illinois Car and Truck Accident Lawyer Blog

As a personal injury attorney, I am disturbed by the apparent lackadaisical approach American Airlines takes to safety regulations. I hope the FAA monitors the airline and others closely to ensure that safety requirements are being met to the utmost. This week, “safety inspector Douglas E. Peters testified before Congress about the Federal Aviation Administration's oversight of American in 2008, when problems were spotted with the way electrical wires were secured on the airline's MD-80 aircraft. He said his bosses helped American keep using planes that didn't meet safety standards.” (Washington AP, 4/2). Federal officials, namely the Transportation Department’s inspector general, agree that American violated safety standards. However, the inspector general further concluded that the FAA was within its power to allow continued use of the planes while American got a second opinion about the wiring issue.

Although maybe within its authority, the decision to allow continued use of the jets created a perception among employees that the FAA was aiding American to avoid ground planes that should be grounded, hence the “whistle blowing” complaint. In response to the light shed upon the situation, “the FAA is considering a fine against American that could run into millions of dollars.”