Following the death of a Los Angeles International Airport worker in February, Cal/OSHA has issued citations and imposed a fine of $77,250 on Menzies Aviation for allegedly violating 1 regulatory, 1 serious and 3 serious-accident related state safety codes.
On February 21, Cesar Valenzuela, a 51-year-old LAX worker employed by Menzies, was thrown out of a tow tractor while he was picking cargo without wearing a seatbelt. The investigations conducted by Cal/OSHA revealed that the safety policy of Menzies Aviation does not obligate the workers to wear safety belts while operating the tow tractors in and around the Los Angeles International Airport.
According to Christine Baker, the director of the Department of Industrial Relations, which oversees Cal/OSHA, “This fatality could have been prevented with a well-thought-out and implemented safety plan, as is required for all worksites in California.”
Condor flight DE-2010 made an emergency landing in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May 29th.
Alaska Airlines flight AS-959 made an emergency landing in Portland, Oregon, on May 13th.
Norwegian Air Shuttle flight DY-7064 had to return and make an emergency landing at Oakland International Airport, Alameda County, California, on July 22nd.
American Airlines flight AA-1048 had to divert and make an emergency landing at Raleigh–Durham International Airport, North Carolina, on April 22nd.
Delta Airlines flight DL-2392 had to return for an emergency landing in Dayton, Ohio, on December 6th.