FAA proposes $275,000 penalty against Atlas Airlines

WASHINGTON, DC – The US Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes a $275,000 civil penalty against Atlas Airlines of Purchase, NY, for allegedly operating a Boeing 747 after performing improper maintenance on the aircraft.

The FAA alleges that Atlas maintenance workers improperly repaired the plane’s landing gear after it would not retract on departure from Sydney, Australia. Atlas repaired the gear using the wrong part, and maintenance workers had to install the component upside down to get it to fit, the FAA alleges.

Atlas operated the aircraft on 24 cargo flights over a 10-day period after improperly repairing the landing gear, the FAA alleges. The aircraft was not in an airworthy condition during those flights, the agency alleges.

Atlas has been in communication with the FAA about the case.