More American flights canceled over wiring

American Airlines canceled more than 1,000 flights last week, at least one-third of its schedule, spending several days inspecting the wiring on some of its jets — the same issue that caused it to scrub hundreds of flights two weeks ago.

The nation's biggest airline stranded thousands of travelers. Federal inspectors found problems with wiring work done two weeks ago, although the airline says passenger safety was never jeopardized.

Since the FAA began looking more closely at safety directive compliance, there have been cancellations at Southwest, Delta Air Lines and United.

Congressmen rebuke FAA over testimony

Three House members last week charged the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with presenting "misleading" testimony about airline maintenance. "Your testimony conveyed inaccurate and misleading information about whether aviation safety inspectors and managers ... were ordered to conduct special meetings with all airlines, repair stations and other regulated entities to deliver and discuss" the FAA's Customer Service Initiative, according to a letter sent by Democrat Reps. James Oberstar, Jerry Costello and Peter DeFazio.

Two FAA inspectors who exposed maintenance and inspection problems at Southwest Airlines told lawmakers their jobs were threatened and their reports were ignored for years by superiors. Last month, the FAA ordered the audit of maintenance records at all domestic carriers following reports of missed safety inspections at Dallas-based Southwest. The airline was hit with a record $10.2 million fine for continuing to fly dozens of Boeing 737s that hadn't been inspected for cracks in their fuselages.

Tourist sent home after Easter Island vandalism

A Finnish tourist who chipped an earlobe off an ancient Moai on Easter Island has been allowed to go home after paying a $17,000 fine and agreeing not to return for three years, police said last week.

Marko Kulju, 26, deposited the money into a bank account overseen by the court that handled his case, the Easter Island prosecutor's office said. Kulju also wrote a public apology for damaging the figure, one of 400 statues carved out of volcanic rock between 400 and 1,000 years ago to represent deceased ancestors.

Riot-torn Tibet market reopens to tourists

The riot-damaged market in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa opened its doors last week amid plans to allow foreign tourists to enter the restive region by the end of the month.

The 300-year-old Chomsigkang market in Lhasa's historic downtown was severely damaged by anti-government protesters who swept through the area on March 14, setting fires and attacking members of the Han Chinese ethnic majority and Chinese Muslims.

Seattle Times news services