American Airlines tilts at record $24M fine

American Airlines vows to challenge a record $24.2 million penalty for safety violations and insists that it did not endanger passengers during a 2008 dispute with safety inspectors that led to massive flight disruptions.

The Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday notified American that it must pay more than twice as much as any previous fine levied by the agency. The airline made 14,278 flights on 286 MD-80 jets without making required upgrades to wiring, the agency charged.