Advertisement

American cancels flights to inspect planes

FORT WORTH, Texas, March 26 (UPI) -- American Airlines, based in Fort Worth, Texas, canceled about 200 flights Wednesday to inspect its aging MD-80 aircraft.

The airline said the cancellations came after a Federal Aviation Administration audit raised questions about how a wire bundle was attached to the aircraft, the Dallas Morning News reported.

Advertisement

"We are re-inspecting the MD-80s to make sure the wiring is installed and secured exactly according to the directive," American spokesman Tim Wagner said in a statement.

The inspection takes several hours per plane, Wagner said. Some have been completed and those planes were back in service.

"We are in the process of completing the inspections on the remaining airplanes and will return them to service on a rolling basis throughout the day (Wednesday)," he said.

The FAA last week ordered an audit of the safety programs of all U.S. airlines after fining Southwest Airlines $10.2 million for flying more than three dozen Boeing 737 jets that were out of compliance with airworthiness directives.

Latest Headlines