FAA fines airline involved in 2009 crash

By msnbc.com news services

The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed a $153,000 fine against Colgan Air for operating more than a dozen flights without giving pilots and flight attendants a required break between shifts.

The regional carrier, which is owned by Pinnacle Airlines, was involved in the Feb. 12, 2009, crash near Buffalo that killed 50 people.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the crash was the result of pilot error. Though both pilots onboard the flight had schedules within FAA requirements, the NTSB warned that fatigue likely played a factor in their decision-making. (See the full report. PDF)

The FAA cited 17 flights operated between June 2008 and February 2009 on which two captains, two first officers and six flight attendants worked even though they had been on duty for the previous six consecutive days. The FAA requires that flight crew members get a 24-hour break during seven consecutive calendar days of work.

Joe Williams, a spokesman for the airline, said Colgan "complied with all applicable duty and rest rules and will respond accordingly" to the proposed fine, according to the Associated Press.

"We have worked closely with the FAA as we have revised our safety programs and have invested heavily above and beyond FAA requirements on both personnel and resources to facilitate new programs," Williams told the AP. "Colgan remains in compliance with these requirements."

Information from the Associated Press was included in this report.

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Source: http://overheadbin.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/02/10562151-faa-fines-airline-involved-in-2009-crash

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