While the FAA Airworthiness directive that grounded the American Airlines fleet specifically warned of the danger of sparking wires being an ignition source near a main fuel tank, AMR tried to downplay the safety aspect, with AMR spoke persons insisting that the grounding was merely a "compliance issue." But the media didn't buy that spin - here's why.


News coverage of the AA grounding

CBS News

An investigative reporter confronts AMR spokesman Charley Wilson with the FAA directive warning of possible electrical arcing and fuel tank explosions in MD80, contradicting the official AMR Corporate Communications "talking points." Completely befuddled, Wilson abruptly walks off camera but, unfortunately for him, his microphone is still on.



FOX News' Neil Cavuto

Was this grounding of American Airlines a safety issue, as the FAA terms it, or a "compliance" problem, as AA claims? Neil Cavuto cuts through the AMR spin.



NBC News

A disaster for several hundred thousand travelers. Here is the Dallas NBC affiliate's team coverage.