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Dear June:
I’ve been at Eastern for three months now. Since my arrival, I’ve been impressed by the consistent commitment to service from the people here. We’re producing a first-rate product and running a good, on-time airline. Those of you who fly us regularly know first-hand what I’m talking about.
In recent days you have undoubtedly read or heard news accounts about the indictment of nine Eastern employees on charges of falsifying repair records and failing to maintain aircraft. I want to address this in detail because this is a serious issue, and because you deserve an explanation.
At the outset I want to make one point clear—the allegations concern events that occurred almost two years ago at a maintenance facility that has been closed for a year. The investigation has nothing to do with our operations or maintenance practices today.
In every respect, today Eastern is running a safe, efficient, and courteous airline. Eastern may have its share of problems but operating an unsafe airline is not one of them. This airline has undergone a rigorous inspection by the FAA, a rigorous inspection by the Department of Defense, as well as our internal audit. In every case, Eastern has passed these inspections in good order, and the FAA continues to be a vigilant observer and enforcer of regulations on the Eastern property to an extent unprecedented in American aviation history.
When the U.S. Attorney advised me the company and certain management personnel would be subject to criminal indictments, I asked our attorneys to enter into discussions with him to try to put this investigation and these matters to rest.
We were prepared to acknowledge to the U.S. Attorney in the form of a guilty plea that improper maintenance practices occurred during the pre-strike period up until March of 1989. Where wrongdoing was found by our own and a separate FAA investigation, employees were terminated or reassigned and penalties were levied by the FAA.
These discussions ended and the indictments were handed down because the company simply could not agree to the U.S. Attorney’s demand for a guilty plea to a conspiracy charge, which in our judgment would have called into question our present superior maintenance program and all employees and managers involved in that program.
I want to sincerely thank you for your support, past and present. Our product is improving and people are responding. Nothing is going to stand in the way of this progress. We have enjoyed serving you in the past, and we hope we can count on your continued support in the coming months.
Sincerely,
Martin R. Shugrue
Trustee
Reprinted with permission by courtesy of Eastern Air Lines.
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