Apr 18, 2008 2:30 pm US/Central
American Airlines Ordered To Explain Cancellations
Transportation Secretary Gives Airline, FAA Two Weeks To Explain
WASHINGTON (AP) ―
Transportation Secretary Mary Peters is demanding that federal regulators and American Airlines explain why 250,000 U.S. air travelers endured canceled flights last week during safety inspections.
Peters told reporters Friday that she doesn't believe the Federal Aviation Administration overreacted in insisting on the rapid rewiring and checks of wiring on MD-80 jetliners. But as she put it: "No one at all was well served by what happened last week."
The secretary ordered the FAA and the airline to explain to within two weeks her what happened and why and how such massive inconvenience to travelers could be avoided in the future while still enforcing safety rules. American canceled about 3,100 flights to do the inspections and fixes on its planes.
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