FAA fines New York-area airports $3.5 million for safety violations

The FAA reached a settlement with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for aircraft rescue and firefighting violations at John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia, Newark and Teterboro airports.

The Port Authority, which operates the airports, is subject to additional fines of $1.5 million and $27,500 per day for each new violation found.

In late 2011 the FAA says it found aircraft rescue and firefighting violations at JFK during a certification safety inspection, and found additional violations at LaGuardia, Newark, and Teterboro in subsequent inspections. No violations were uncovered at another Port Authority facility, Stewart Airport in New Windsor, New York.

As part of the settlement, the Port Authority must initiate reforms, including creating a dedicated aircraft rescue and firefighting unit that has “no collateral police officer duties.”