American lies on FAA exposed

American Airlines’ claims that wiring problems that grounded 1,000 flights yesterday and about 500 today aren’t serious is pure bullshit.. The Federal Aviation Administration says shorts in the wiring at question could cause a fuel-tank explosion similar to that on the infamous TWA Flight 800.

American, you remember TWA, don’t you? The airline you acquired a few years back?

The explosion of TWA Flight 800 off New York's Long Island that killed all 230 people aboard in July 1996 was blamed on fuel vapors ignited by wiring. But it was a Boeing 747, not an MD-80, and investigators believe the disaster involved different wiring from the bundles now under scrutiny.

Brian Stirm, an aircraft-maintenance expert at Purdue University, said airlines had plenty of time for the inspections and that even an untrained mechanic could spot a problem.

That second graf is the key one, even if the first graf indicates FAA worries might be a little high.

American and Southwest – racing to the bottom for Dallas airline service.