The Federal Aviation Administration seeks multimillion-dollar fines against United Airlines and US Airways for safety violations, including flying a plane after mechanics stuffed shop towels into an engine. The agency moves for a $5.4 million fine against US Airways, which is a dominant player in the Buffalo and Western New York market, for operating eight planes on a total of 1,647 flights from October 2008 to January 2009 in violation of safety directives or the company’s own maintenance rules. More can be found on AOLNews.

Toyota Shim or Sham
As an attorney who handles vehicle defect cases I see unnecessary injuries when companies fail to disclose problems. But take a look at Toyota’s relationship with the National Highway Safety Administration (NHSTA) and its success in keeping defects out of the press and getting corrected.