Cleveland Hopkins International Airport has vowed to hire more staff following a proposed $735,000 fine from the Federal Aviation Administration for ‘failing on numerous occasions’ to clear runways of snow and ice during the last two winters.
A number of incidents since 2013 included an airport vehicle sliding on ice into a runway that a plane was taking off from.
In two separate incidents, two planes were stranded on taxiways because of ‘unsafe braking conditions,’ the FAA said.
The agency said in both cases there was insufficient staff to clear the runways of snow.
"Snow and ice removal at our nation’s airports is a critical safety issue," a statement from FAA Administrator Michael Huerta said.
City of Cleveland spokesman Dan Williams said the airport is looking to hire more maintenance workers, airport operations agents and snowplow drivers to comply with minimum-staffing requirements under an agreement with the FAA.
