Feds Fine Airline $500K for Crash Response—a First

Asiana Airlines has been penalized $500,000 for failing to assist family members of passengers on a flight that crashed last year at San Francisco airport. The fine announced by the US Department of Transportation was a first: No airline has broken US laws that require prompt and generous assistance to the loved ones of crash victims. Three people died and dozens were injured on July 6 when Asiana Flight 214 clipped a seawall while landing.

An investigation by the Department of Transportation concluded that some family members had not been contacted two days after the crash, and it took five days to reach the families of all 291 passengers. "The last thing families and passengers should have to worry about at such a stressful time is how to get information from their carrier," said transportation chief Anthony Foxx. An airline spokesperson said Asiana "provided extensive support" to the families. (More Asiana Airlines stories.)