Spirit Airlines Faces Hefty Federal Aviation Administration Penalty Over Hazardous Shipments

Saturday, March 23, 2024

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a civil penalty of $146,500 against Spirit Airlines, based in Miramar, Florida, for purported breaches of the Department of Transportation’s Hazardous Materials Regulations.

According to the FAA, Spirit Airlines staff attempted to send five shipments, each containing compressed oxygen cylinders, through FedEx for air delivery from Detroit to New York during August and September 2022.

FedEx personnel in Detroit declined one shipment because the packaging for the compressed oxygen cylinder was compromised, failed to meet the Flame Penetration Resistance Test standards, and lacked proper marking and labeling.

The FAA claims that all five shipments were managed by Spirit employees who had not undergone the mandatory training on handling hazardous materials as stipulated by the United States Department of Transportation’s Special Permit requirements.

Following the receipt of the FAA’s enforcement notice, Spirit Airlines has a 30-day window to formulate a response to the allegations.

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