Faa Fines Delta For Missed Inspection

The Federal Aviation Administration Wednesday fined Delta Air Lines $650,000 for violating a directive for stepped-up inspections of thrust reversers, which help slow and stop a plane after landing.

Delta used one of its Boeing 757s for 476 passenger flights without inspecting the thrust reversers every 1,000 flight hours as ordered by the FAA, the agency said. The flights occurred from Oct. 16 to Jan. 25.

The inspections were ordered after the FAA required airlines to install an additional locking mechanism to keep the thrust reversers from activating in flight.

The fine covered only one Delta plane that was not properly inspected, said FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen. Delta has a total of 86 Boeing 757s.

Only one required inspection was skipped, said Delta spokesman Bill Berry.

“It was our mistake,” Berry said. “We paid for it.”