Dallas (by Associated Press)--Federal officials are seeking a record penalty of $24.2 million against American Airlines over maintenance lapses that caused thousands of canceled flights in 2008.
American said the civil penalty was unwarranted and it would appeal.
The dispute dates to 2008, when American had to cancel more than 3,000 flights -- inconveniencing 350,000 passengers -- until wiring could be fixed to the satisfaction of the Federal Aviation Administration.
The FAA said Thursday that the improper harnessing of wires on American's McDonnell Douglas MD-80-series jets -- about half its fleet at the time -- could have led to fires and even fuel-tank explosions. It said American flew more than 14,000 flights with planes that didn't meet the wiring requirements.
American has claimed all along that the FAA's concerns were overblown, and that passenger safety was never jeopardized.
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