FAA floats penalty for airline over flight attendants’ drug allegations
- The FAA has proposed a $255,000 civil penalty against American Airlines for allegedly allowing flight attendants who tested positive for drugs or alcohol to return to duty without completing required follow-up testing from May 2019 to December 2023.
- The violations involved substances such as alcohol, amphetamines, cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamine, with 12 flight attendants reportedly affected during the period.
- American Airlines stated it is reviewing the FAA's notice, emphasizing its commitment to safety and collaboration with the FAA to strengthen drug and alcohol testing procedures and accountability.
- American Airlines is one of the largest carriers globally, operating a vast domestic and international network with over 100,000 employees and a fleet of approximately 1,000 aircraft, serving more than 200 million passengers annually.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a $255,000 civil penalty against American Airlines, alleging the carrier violated federal drug and alcohol regulations by allowing flight attendants who tested positive to return to duty without meeting required safeguards.
The FAA said that from May 2019 to December 2023, American Airlines permitted 12 flight attendants who failed drug or alcohol tests to resume safety‑sensitive duties without completing all mandated follow‑up testing. According to the agency, the positive tests involved substances including alcohol, amphetamines, cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamine. The airline has 30 days to respond after receiving the FAA’s enforcement letter.
An American Airlines spokesperson told Newsweek via email, "We are reviewing the FAA's notice. The safety of our customers and team members is paramount. We take drug and alcohol testing seriously and collaborate with the FAA to address any issues. These programs have been enhanced over the years through meaningful action to strengthen procedures for oversight and accountability."
American Airlines is among the largest carriers in the world and the biggest U.S. airline by passengers carried and daily flights. It traces its roots to the early days of commercial aviation, emerging in the 1930s from the consolidation of dozens of smaller airmail carriers.
The company is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, and operates a sprawling domestic and international network through major hubs including Dallas-Fort Worth, Charlotte, Chicago O’Hare, Miami, Philadelphia, Phoenix and New York. American is a founding member of the Oneworld alliance and flies to hundreds of destinations across North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East.
The airline employs more than 100,000 people across its mainline and regional operations, making it one of the largest private‑sector employers in the U.S. aviation industry. Its workforce includes pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, customer service agents and corporate staff, many of whom are represented by powerful labor unions. Like other major airlines, American has faced recurring labor, safety and regulatory scrutiny in recent years as it rebuilt schedules and staffing levels following the pandemic downturn.
The carrier operates a fleet of roughly 1,000 mainline aircraft and runs thousands of flights a day, carrying well over 200 million passengers annually in a highly regulated industry overseen by federal aviation authorities.
Updates: 4/8/26, 7:12 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.