American Faces Lawsuit Over New York Crash

May 1, 2002

American Airlines is to be sued by the families of 15 passengers who were killed when one of the US carrier's Airbus A300-600 planes crashed shortly after take-off last November.

The action is being brought on behalf of fifteen citizens of the Dominican Republic who were among the 260 people who lost their lives when American Flight 587 plunged into Belle Harbor, New York.

The flight was bound for the Dominican Republic from John F Kennedy airport.

The lawsuit, filed by a California firm, alleges that American Airlines was responsible for the crash by failing to properly maintain and inspect the aircraft and failing to properly train employees involved in inspection, maintenance and operation of the aircraft.

It also claims that investigations have revealed that the tail fin and rudder broke off the Airbus 300 as the plane was climbing on take-off.

An inspection of another Airbus 300-600 in Tulsa last month revealed signs that the internal layers of the carbon-reinforced composite fin had begun to separate from each other where the component part connects to the tail section of the fuselage. The tail fin on that plane is being replaced.

http://news.airwise.com/stories/2002/05/1020269762.html

And speaking of American Airlines, thanks to the person who sent me the following:

Tuesday April 30, 7:15 pm Eastern Time
Reuters Business
FAA seeks $247,500 penalty against American Airlines

WASHINGTON, April 30 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday said it was seeking a $247,500 civil penalty against American Airlines for sending an unmarked, hazardous oxygen generator aboard a Federal Express plane.


American Airlines, a unit of AMR Corp. (NYSE:AMR - news), offered the oxygen generator to Federal Express (NYSE:FDX - news) on Aug. 21, 2001, for transport from New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport to American's maintenance and engineering center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the FAA said. AMR is based in Fort Worth, Texas.

A chemical oxygen generator is considered to be hazardous material by the FAA.

"The package containing the generator was not properly classed, described, packed, marked, labeled and in condition for shipment when it was offered to Federal Express," the FAA said, adding that American personnel in Tulsa discovered the violation.

An American Airlines spokesman was not immediately available for comment. The airline has 30 days to respond upon receipt of the enforcement letter.

A shipment of oxygen generators was blamed for the fiery crash of a ValuJet Airlines DC-9 jet into the Florida Everglades in 1996, killing 110 people aboard.

Shares of AMR fell 27 cents to close at $21.47 on the New York Stock Exchange.

http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/020430/airlines_amr_faa_1.html