FAA fines Boeing $13.5 million for missed deadline

WASHINGTON — Federal safety officials say they’re fining Boeing $13.5 million for failing to meet a deadline for providing airlines instruction on how to prevent fuel tank explosions in some Boeing airliners.

The Federal Aviation Administration said Friday that aircraft manufacturers were required to develop design changes and service instructions for installing systems to reduce the risk of fuel tank flammability by December 27, 2010. The agency said other manufacturers met the deadline, but Boeing was 301 days late on providing instruction for its 747 planes, and 406 days late for its 757 planes.

FAA issued directives to manufacturers and airlines on how to prevent the ignition of vapors in airline fuel tanks after TWA Flight 800 exploded off the coast of New York in July 1996, killing all 230 people aboard.