FAA proposes fine against Mesa Airlines

The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed a fine over alleged drug and alcohol testing regulation violations by Mesa Airlines, which provides regional service for some American Airlines flights at Wichita Eisenhower National Airport.

The FAA said in a news release that it has proposed a $174,600 civil penalty against Phoenix-based Mesa.

The proposed penalty stems from what the FAA said was a failure by the airline to put six employees in “safety-sensitive positions” into a random drug and alcohol testing pool. The FAA also alleged that Mesa didn’t notify the regulator about an employee with a mechanic’s certificate who refused to submit to a drug test within a required two-day period.

The airline has 30 days to respond to the proposed penalty, the FAA said.

This story was originally published September 2, 2015 at 10:13 AM with the headline "FAA proposes fine against Mesa Airlines."