American Office Raided in Federal Probe

AMR Corp. said federal agents raided its American Airlines office in Miami, seeking documents on shipments of hazardous material. About 60 agents from the Federal Aviation Administration, FBI and Transportation Department searched American’s terminal and cargo facilities, removing computers and files, spokeswoman Martha Pantin said. The search warrant is sealed. The seizure is “essentially related to” an Oct. 1 incident in which passengers on a flight from Miami to Ecuador complained about pesticide fumes, U.S. Atty. Willie Fernandez in Miami said, declining further comment. The fumes were traced to bags of pesticide a client was shipping in the luggage compartment. The airline was surprised by the search and is cooperating fully with the investigation, Pantin said. The FAA has strengthened enforcement of rules governing hazardous materials since the May 1996 crash of a ValuJet Inc. aircraft in Florida that killed all 110 people on board. Improperly packaged and labeled chemical oxygen generators caught fire in the cargo hold minutes after takeoff. Fort Worth-based AMR’s shares fell $3.94 to close at $118.63 on the NYSE.