Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA), a short-haul carrier for Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, is facing a fine of $425,000 after an FAA investigation concluded that the airline continued to fly passengers in planes that had been hit by lightning, even though it never checked the planes for damage after the lightning strikes. FAA requirements state all aircraft that have been struck by lightning should undergo detailed damage checks as a precaution.
The FAA announced the proposed, civil penalty on Thursday. ASA is disputing the FAA’s findings.
An FAA investigation has concluded that after two, in-flight ASA planes were struck by lightning in July, 2008, ASA did not check out the planes immediately upon landing. The 50-passenger Bombardier CRJ-200 regional jet airliners were kept in service by the airline allegedly "not in an airworthy condition" for a total of 13 more flights with passengers aboard — potentially in a "reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another," claims the FAA.
ASA insisted it did comply with the FAA’s lightning-strike maintenance.