Airbus fined for undeclared hazmat shipment

The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed a $162,500 civil penalty against Airbus Defence and Space of Madrid, Spain, for allegedly violating federal hazardous materials transport regulations.    The U.S. Transportation Department’s Federal Aviation Administration has proposed a $162,500 civil penalty against Airbus Defence and Space of Madrid, Spain, for allegedly violating federal hazardous materials transport regulations.
   The FAA alleges that on May 25, 2015, Airbus knowingly offered an undeclared hazardous shipment on a passenger-carrying plane from Seville, Spain, to Miami. The shipment contained two protective breathing equipment units, each of which contained a chemical oxygen generator. The chemical is an oxidizer, which can cause or enhance the combustion of other materials. U.S. hazmat rules prohibit transporting these devices as cargo on passenger planes.
   After arriving in Miami, the shipment was offered undeclared to FedEx for overnight shipping by air from Miami to Lenexa, Kan.
   The FAA alleges the shipment was “not accompanied by shipping papers indicating the hazardous nature of the contents and was not properly packaged, marked, or labeled.” The agency also cited that Airbus did not provide emergency response information with the shipment.