No passenger injuries linked to the 11 incidents were cited in the FAA’s announcement.
Alaska did not immediately respond to a request for comment but said in a statement sent to media outlets: “Since the FAA shared these concerns with us over a year ago, we made meaningful changes to ensure compliance with the FAA’s expectations—including enhanced training for all flight attendants and customer service agents. ...We respect the results of the FAA’s audit and are confident in the changes that have been in place for the last year to ensure our shared standards are being met.”
Tuesday’s announcement is the latest in a series of FAA civil penalties proposed against major U.S. airlines this year.
The FAA in April suggested a $255,000 civil penalty against American Airlines, alleging the Fort Worth-based carrier had allowed 12 flight attendants to resume safety-sensitive work after testing positive for drugs or alcohol without completing required follow-up testing.
According to the agency, the substances include alcohol, amphetamines, cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamine, which regulators said posed a risk to passenger safety aboard American Airlines flights.
Under the FAA’s governing regulation for drug and alcohol testing in aviation, any employee who tests positive for a prohibited substance must be removed from safety-sensitive positions without delay.
Those positions include pilots, flight engineers, flight attendants responsible for cabin safety, and aircraft maintenance personnel who perform repairs or preventive maintenance. The classification also includes aircraft dispatchers, flight instructors, and air traffic controllers at contract towers, as well as ground security coordinators.
Also in April, the agency suggested a civil penalty for Southwest Airlines over similar allegations involving employees that included pilots, flight attendants, and aircraft mechanics.
The back-to-back actions signaled more forceful enforcement to ensure regulatory compliance of airlines across a range of safety categories—from crew fitness to passenger boarding practices.
Tuesday’s action comes after more than two years of intensified federal oversight of Alaska Airlines following one of the most alarming midair safety failures in recent U.S. aviation history.
On Jan. 5, 2024, a door plug on a Boeing 737 MAX 9 operated by Alaska Airlines blew out roughly 10 minutes after takeoff from Portland International Airport, leaving a gaping hole in the plane and causing it to abruptly and violently depressurize. The pressure change resulted in bleeding ears, coupled with low oxygen, loud wind noise, and traumatic stress, causing severe headaches. All 171 passengers and six crew members survived, with three receiving minor injuries.
Aldgra Fredly and Reuters contributed to this report.
