11/6/2016

TheAlaskaAirlinescrash:signspointtoawidercrisisinairsafetyWorldSocialistWebSite

TheAlaskaAirlinescrash:signspoint
toawidercrisisinairsafety
ByJerryWhite
19February2000

BynowthereisoverwhelmingevidencethattheJanuary31crashofAlaska
AirlinesFlight261thatkilledall88peopleaboardwastheresultofa
catastrophicmechanicalfailure.Asthetwopilotsstruggledtokeepthe
planestable,theytoldmechanicsonthegroundthattheycouldnotcontrol
thehorizontalstabilizer,thesmallwingonthetailthatdirectstheplane's
pitch.Theflightdatarecorderrecoveredafterthecrashcaughtthesoundof
twoloudnoisesfromtherearoftheplane,includingonejustbeforethe
planeplungedintothePacificOcean.
NationalTransportationSafetyBoard(NTSB)investigatorsarefocusingon
damagetothejackscrewandagimbalnutassemblythatraisesandlowers
thehorizontalstabilizerontheBoeingMD83.Whenthetwofootlong
screwwasrecoveredfromtheseaitwaswrappedinmetalribbon,
apparentlystrippedoffofthenut.Someanalystsbelievethatthejackscrew
mayhavetornthroughthebadlywornnut,leavingthehorizontalstabilizer
jammedinafullnosedownposition.
Manythingshavehappenedsincethecrashthatindicateseriousproblems
notonlywiththisparticularplane,butwithAlaskaAirlinesingeneral,and,
morebroadly,theUSairlineindustryasawhole.Whatemergesfromthese
revelationsisanalarmingpictureofthestateofairsafety.
Inthedaysthatfollowedthecrash,threeMD80sabortedflightsbecauseof
mechanicalproblems,includingmalfunctioninghorizontalstabilizersintwo
planes,oneoperatedbyAlaskaAirlinesandtheotherbyAmericanAirlines.
ThispromptedtheFederalAviationAdministration(FAA)toorderthe
immediateinspectionofallMD80sandsimilaraircraft,leadingtothe
groundingof8outof40ofAlaskaAirlines'fleetofsuchplanes,andanother
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2000/02/alasf19.html

1/7

11/6/2016

TheAlaskaAirlinescrash:signspointtoawidercrisisinairsafetyWorldSocialistWebSite

19bymajorUScarrierssuchasContinental,American,Northwest,Delta
andTWA.Mechanicshadtoreplacethejackscrewandnutassemblieson
18oftheseaircraftbecauseofdamageandwear.
Giventheapparentscaleofsafetyproblems,whatisremarkableisthe
paucityofinformationavailabletotheflyingpublic.Themoststaggering
facttoemergeisthatAlaskaAirlinesisundercriminalinvestigation,dating
fromDecember1998,forfalsifyingmaintenancerecordsonMD80sjets.
Theairlineischargedwithcertifyingthecompletionofrepairworkthatwas,
infact,nevercarriedout.Itisalsofacingcivilfinesfortheseviolationsfrom
theFAA.
Thesefactswereneverreportedpriortothecrash.Nomemberofthe
generalpublicwhochoosetoflyonAlaskaAirlineswasawarethatthe
airlinewasfacingcriminalsanctionsformaintenancefraud.These
revelationsonlyemergedtwoweekslater,andeventhenwerereportedonly
ontheinsidepagesofahandfulofnewspapers,andwerenevermentioned
inthehoursofcommentaryonthecrashairedbythetelevisionnetworks.
Indeed,newscommentariesfrequentlyrepeatedthestatementthatAlaska
Airhadacommendablesafetyrecord.
YetthecriminalprobeofAlaskaAirlinesisahighlyunusualdevelopment,
eminentlynewsworthyinandofitself,andallthemoresointhewakeofthe
January31crash.NormallywhentheFAAfindsevidenceofmaintenance
violations,themostserioussanctiontheoffendingairlinereceivesisa
tokenfine.Criminalproceedingsarealmostunheardof.
ButinDecember1998heavilyarmedFBIfederalagentsraidedthe
company'sOakland,Californiamaintenancehangar,theveryfacilitywhere
theMD83planeinvolvedinthecrashwasserviced.Theyseized
maintenancelogsandotherrecordsfromthehangarandfromthe
company'sSeattleheadquarters.AnotherraidtookplaceinNovember
1999.Theseactionsstemmedfromchargesbyaseniormechanicatthe
facility,JohnLiotine,thatsupervisorsandmechanicsweresigningoffon
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2000/02/alasf19.html

2/7

11/6/2016

TheAlaskaAirlinescrash:signspointtoawidercrisisinairsafetyWorldSocialistWebSite

workthattheywereeitherunqualifiedtodo,orhadnotperformed,sothat
planescouldbeputbackintoserviceassoonaspossible.
Muchofthegrandjuryinvestigationhasbeencloakedinsecrecy,butthe
FAAinquiryshowedthatAlaskaAirlinesallowedmorethan840flightsby
twoMD80jetlinersinanunairworthyconditionbetweenOctober1998and
January1999.Bothplaneswereallowedtoflydespitefalsifiedmaintenance
checksthatincludedworkbyanAlaskaAirlinessupervisorwhowasnot
appropriatelycertified,properlytrainedorqualifiedtodoso,theFAAsaid
inasummaryreportlastyear.Atonepoint,aplanewasreleasedfor
passengerservicebutwaspulledbackafterdirepleadingsbysomeAlaska
Airlinesmechanics,accordingtocompanyrecordsandinterviewswith
mechanics.
Liotineinformedhissupervisorsandacorporatevicepresidentaboutthese
violations,buthewasignored.HethentoldtheFAA.AfterwardsLiotine,
whowaspresidentoftheMachinists'unionlocalinOaklandatthetime,was
removedfromofficebytheunionandplacedonpaidadministrativeleave
bytheairline.Liotineclaimsthatheandhisfamilyhavesincereceived
anonymousthreats.
TheFAAinspectorwhoinvestigatedtheallegationsrecommendedan$8.7
millionfineagainstAlaskaAirlines,buthewasoverruledbyFAAofficialsin
LosAngeles,whoreducedtheproposedfineto$44,000.However,federal
authoritiesdecidedtopursuecriminalcharges,anindicationthatthe
violationswereconsciousandwillfulandinvolvedhigherlevelofficialsat
AlaskaAirlines.
InFebruary1999federalprosecutorsmetwithAlaskaAirlinesofficialsand
theirattorneys.AnFAAinspectorwhoattendedthemeetingwroteina
memothattheairlineappearedtobemoreconcernedwithbuildingalegal
defensethanaddressingsafetyissues.Alaska'sconcernforsafety,hesaid,
wassecondarytofindingoutwhatandwhowehadonthem.

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2000/02/alasf19.html

3/7

11/6/2016

TheAlaskaAirlinescrash:signspointtoawidercrisisinairsafetyWorldSocialistWebSite

Theserevelationsarepartofmountingevidenceofmoregeneral
deficienciesinairsafetyintheUS,andadegreeoflaxityinenforcing
safetystandardsonthepartoftheFAAthatvergesonoutrightcollusion
withtheairlinecarriersandBoeing.
Notsurprisingly,themassmediamanagethenewsinsuchawayasto
shieldthecorporateintereststhatareultimatelyresponsiblefortheerosion
ofsafetyintheair.Themostcritical,andoftendamning,factsemergein
dripsanddrabs,ifatall.Thehugemonopoliesthatcontroltheprintand
broadcastoutletstakepainstopreventthepublicfromseeingthebroader
picture,andunderstandingtheunderlyingconditionsandforcesthat,inthe
end,producetragediessuchasthecrashofFlight261.
Onefactthathasemerged:theNTSBhasrevealedthatinSeptember
1997,morethantwoyearsbeforetheAlaskaAirlinesMD83crashedinto
thePacific,mechanicsattheOaklandfacilitydiscoveredthatthegimbalnut
ontheillfatedplanewasbadlywornandinneedofreplacement.But
insteadofreplacingthepart,theairlineorderednewtestsonthenutand
decideditwasgoodenoughtokeepinuse.Sothatveryplanewassentout
withthewornequipmentwhichisnowbelievedtohavecausedthedisaster.
ThesameplaneunderwentaheavymaintenancecheckattheOakland
hangaronJanuary13,1999,andmayhaveevenbeenservicedtheresince.
AlaskaAirlineshasbeenpraisedforhavingoneofthebestsafetyrecords
intheUS.Ifthisisthepracticeofasafecompany,whatisthestateofthe
restoftheairlineindustry?
TheFlight261disasterwasnotanisolatedincident.Overthepastfive
yearstherehavebeenanumberofcrashesintheUSthathadnothingtodo
withbadweatherordifficulttakeofforlandingconditions.Amongthose
thatfelloutoftheskyduringroutineflightswereValuJetFlight592andTWA
Flight800in1996,SwissairFlight111in1998andEgyptAir990last
October.Hundredsofpassengersandairlineworkersdiedinthese
disasters.
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2000/02/alasf19.html

4/7

11/6/2016

TheAlaskaAirlinescrash:signspointtoawidercrisisinairsafetyWorldSocialistWebSite

Therewasanewtragedythisweek,onWednesday,February16,whena
DC8cargoplane,operatedbyEmeryWorldwide,crashedinaballoffire
shortlyaftertakeoffinCalifornia,killingallthreemembersoftheflightcrew.
Thepilotsattemptedanemergencylandingaftertellingthecontroltower
thattheircargohadshiftedandtherewasasevereproblemwiththe
balanceoftheaircraft.
Whatdangersarerevealedinthesetragedies?
Arewewitnessingthedeadlyresultsofstructuralfailurescausedbymetal
fatigueandaccumulatedwearandtear,particularlyinolderfleets?Istherea
proliferationofdefectivepartsbecauseofcostcuttingandsubcontracting
tolowcostcompanies?Aretheairlinestakingadvantageoflaxsafety
standardsandtheircozyrelationshipwiththeFAAtocarryoutspotty
maintenance?Whatpriceisbeingpaidbypilotandcrewfatigue,the
outcomeofcorporatecostcuttingthatresultsinlongerhoursandmounting
workloads?
Suchdangershavebeenexacerbatedoverthelasttwodecadesbythe
deregulationoftheairlineindustry.Theguttingofgovernmentrestraintson
theoperationofthecapitalistmarkethasengenderedanatmosphereof
ruthlesscompetition.Commercialviabilitydemandscontinualcostcutting
anddownsizing.TosatisfythebiginvestorsandcreditorsonWallStreet,
whoaredrivenbythemostimmediateandshorttermconsiderations,
companiesmustfindwaystoreduceexpendituresandbolsterthebottom
line.Themaniaforreducingtothevanishingpointallactivitiesthatdonot
directlygenerateprofitreflected,forexample,inshorterturnaroundsatthe
terminalinevitablyleadstocuttingcornerswhenitcomestomaintenance
andsafety.
Itisnoaccidentthatderegulationusheredinaperiodofunionbusting,
wagecuttingandattacksontheworkingconditionsofpilots,flight
attendants,mechanicsandgroundcrew.Moreover,theReagan
administration'sdestructionoftheairtrafficcontrollersunion,PATCO,in
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2000/02/alasf19.html

5/7

11/6/2016

TheAlaskaAirlinescrash:signspointtoawidercrisisinairsafetyWorldSocialistWebSite

1981leftalegacyofproblemsintheairtrafficcontrolsystemthatisyetto
befullyovercome.
Therehasbeenanexplosivegrowthoflowcoststartupcompanies,such
asValuJetAirlines,nowcalledAirTran.Theseareoftenrunbypeoplewith
littleornoexpertiseinaeronautics.Morethanonesuchairlinehasbeen
launchedonlittlemorethanawingandaprayerbuyingoldplanes,
subcontractingoutmaintenanceandotherfunctions,andrelyingonfinancial
stakesprovidedbycreditorslookingtomakeafastprofit.
Whilemassivesumshavebeenexpendedonfarewars,buyoutsand
takeovers,farlesshasbeenallocatedforinvestmentintheinfrastructureof
theindustry,ascanbeseenwiththeantiquatedequipmentusedinmanyof
thebusiestairtrafficcontroltowers.
Thepublichasbeentoldthatthecapitalistmarketisthebestguarantornot
onlyofqualityandaffordableairtravel,butalsosafety.Butthefacts,and
tragediessuchasthecrashofFlight261,hardlybearthisout.
Thisisnottosayairlineexecutivesareoblivioustosafety.Themoral
characterandmotivesofindividualcorporateofficersare,atmost,
secondaryissues.Theseindividualsare,moreover,wellawarethat
accidentsarebadforbusiness.
Butthereisaninherentandobjectiveconflictbetweentheprincipleof
transportationforprofitandamaximum,rationallyplannedandcoordinated
efforttoguaranteethesafetyandessentialneedsoftheflyingpublic.As
longasairtransportationissubordinatedtothedriveforprofit,executives
willcontinuetocutcorners,postponeinvestmentinsaferequipmentand
takeunnecessarychances.Therelentlesspressurefrombiginvestorson
WallStreettocutcostsandincreaseprofitmarginsensuresthatexecutives
whofailtosufficientlyenhanceshareholdervaluewillberemoved.
Whatcouldbedoneifthealreadyexistingtoolsofcomputerizedand
satellitecommunications,theInternet,moreadvancedformsofautomation,
bettermethodsofpilottraining,andmorerationalandhumanework
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2000/02/alasf19.html

6/7

11/6/2016

TheAlaskaAirlinescrash:signspointtoawidercrisisinairsafetyWorldSocialistWebSite

scheduleswereemployedtolessenthedangersofmalfunctionsand
crashes?Whatiftheseeffortswerecoordinatednotonlyonanational,but
ratheronaglobalscale?Underthepresentorderofthings,thedemandsof
themarketandtheprofitneedsofprivatelyownedandcontrolled
companiescutacrosstherationalandcoordinateduseoftechnologyand
science.
Therealissueiseliminatingthisconflict.Thiscanonlybedoneifair
transportationisorganizedonanentirelydifferentprinciple:asapublicly
ownedandoperatedutilityunderthedemocraticcontroloftheworking
populationtoservetheneedsofsocietyasawhole,notthenarrow
interestsofahandfulofwealthyownersandinvestors.Airtravelcouldthen
beorganizedtoprovidesafe,comfortableandaffordabletransportationfor
millionsofpassengers,andadecentstandardoflivingforthehundredsof
thousandsofworkerswhomakethattravelpossible.
Atthebeginningofthelastcenturypublicownershipoftherailroadswas
somethingwidelyadvocated,notonlybysocialists,butbymanywho
consideredthemselvesprogressives,asanecessaryandlogicalstep.
Certainlyatthebeginningofthetwentyfirstcenturyitishightimeforthis
steptobetakeninrelationtoairtravel,whichhasbecomeanindispensable
partofmodernlife.

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2000/02/alasf19.html

7/7