US Watchdog Urges American To Correct Errors

US federal safety regulators advised American Airlines to fix problems in its internal safety procedures revealed in 2007 when a jet crashed in St. Louis after catching fire.

The National Transportation Safety Board also urged the Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday to consider mandating a safety system on jets similar to the American Airlines MD-82.

The safety board also advised the FAA to offer more training for pilots and crew on emergency evacuation procedures.

In late September 2007, the engine on American Airlines flight 1400 caught fire during departure from Lambert-St. Louis Airport. None of the 138 people on board were hurt during the emergency landing, but the plane was badly damaged.

The safety board determined that the cause of the accident was American Airlines' maintenance personnel's use of an incorrect manual engine-start procedure, which led to a fire in the left engine.