DOT Issues Largest Fine Ever Against American Airlines

The airline said all of the delays were due to weather situations and represent a small number of the 7.7 million flights during the time period.

The Department of Transportation has slapped American Airlines with the largest fine ever for holding passengers onboard for too long.

The department issued a $4.1 million fine for lengthy tarmac delays of 43 flights that impacted over 5,800 passengers.

The flights occurred between 2018 and 2021 and during the longest delay, passengers sat aboard a plane for six hours and three minutes. The flight carrying 105-passengers landed after being diverted due to severe weather.

Federal rules set the maximum time that passengers can be held without opportunity to exit the aircraft, at three hours for domestic flights and four hours for international flights.

The airline said all of the delays were due to weather situations and represent a small number of the 7.7 million flights during the time period.

Despite their comment, American Airlines is set to pay just over $2 million of the fine to the government and has been credited to pay the other half in passenger compensation.