The Federal Aviation Administration wants to levy multimillion dollar penalties on United Airlines and US Airways for safety violations.
The FAA said Wednesday it has proposed a $5.4 million fine against US Airways for operating eight planes on a total of 1,647 flights from October 2008 to January 2009 in violation of safety directives or the company's own maintenance rules.
The agency also said it is proposing a $3.8 million fine against United for allegedly operating one of its Boeing 737 aircraft on more than 200 flights after the carrier had violated its own maintenance procedures on one of the plane's engines.
The fines would be among the highest in the FAA's history if measured by the number of planes involved.