United could face a $255,000 fine. Photo: Bradley Caslin / Shutterstock.com 5The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a $255,000 civil penalty against United Airlines, alleging the carrier violated federal drug and alcohol regulations by allowing a flight attendant to perform safety-sensitive duties without completing required return-to-duty procedures.
According to the FAA, the flight attendant worked on 47 flights between May 2024 and July 2025 despite not undergoing evaluation by a substance abuse professional, obtaining a verified negative return-to-duty drug test result, or being enrolled in a required follow-up testing program.
Federal regulations require employees in safety-sensitive positions who violate drug and alcohol rules to complete a series of steps before returning to duty. These include an assessment by a qualified substance abuse professional, a negative return-to-duty test, and ongoing monitoring through follow-up testing.
The FAA said the employee had previously been terminated by United in 2021 after refusing to submit to a drug test. The airline subsequently rehired the flight attendant, who later resumed performing duties aboard commercial flights.
The agency alleges United failed to ensure the employee complied with the mandatory return-to-duty requirements before allowing them to work.
"The FAA alleges United allowed a flight attendant to perform safety-sensitive duties on 47 flights between May 2024 and July 2025 without the evaluation of a substance abuse professional, without a verified negative return-to-duty drug test result, and without being subject to follow-up testing," the agency said in a statement.
The proposed penalty is part of the FAA's enforcement process and does not represent a final determination. United Airlines has 30 days after receiving the FAA's enforcement letter to respond to the allegations.