Carrier fined, oxygen canisters flown to LV

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Friday, Feb. 11, 2000 | 11:56 a.m.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

PHOENIX -- The Federal Aviation Administration fined America West Airlines $70,000 in 1999 for carrying oxygen canisters, a banned hazardous material linked to the ValuJet crash that killed 110 people.

The fine was never disclosed by the FAA despite a policy of reporting fines that exceed $50,000, a pledge that was made soon after the ValuJet crash to restore public confidence in the agency's oversight of air safety.

The Arizona Republic learned details of the violation Tuesday after filing a Freedom of Information Act request.

The fine was for two incidents that occurred in June 1998 involving flights from Phoenix to Las Vegas.