Alaska Air Probe Won’t Lead to Charges
Federal prosecutors have decided not to file charges against Alaska Airlines after a three-year grand jury probe into reported irregularities at a maintenance center.
The investigation was expanded to include the crash of Flight 261 off Point Mugu near Ventura County on Jan. 31, 2000. All 88 people aboard were killed.
Matt Jacobs, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office, said government lawyers will monitor a separate crash probe by the National Transportation Safety Board, which has yet to determine the cause. The airline also faces dozens of wrongful death lawsuits stemming from the crash.
Alaska Air Group Inc., parent of the carrier, also agreed to pay a reported $500,000 to settle a libel lawsuit against a mechanic who triggered the maintenance investigation and dropped its appeal of a $44,000 penalty imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Shares of Seattle-based Alaska Air fell 65 cents to close at $28.65 on the NYSE.
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