"Alaska Airlines is aware of the proposed fine, and we are continuing to discuss this with the FAA. The final resolution on this matter is yet to be determined," said Alaska Airlines spokeswoman Amanda Tobin.

The FAA announced Jan. 7 that the airline failed to maintain the passenger emergency exit lights on one of its Boeing 737s and allegedly operated the passenger aircraft on 478 flights with the wrong lights.

According to the FAA, dozens of inspections of the aircraft failed to detect the problem.

Alaska Airlines discovered the problem and installed the required lighting months later on Feb. 2, 2005. However an FAA inspector said Feb. 10 that the wrong lights had been installed. Alaska operated the flights for nearly a week before installing the correct lights, according to the FAA.

Alaska Airlines has experienced a rash of incidents recently that have canceled flights due to tugs and baggage cart incidents at Seattle and the Los Angeles airports.

On Jan. 11, an Alaska Airlines MD-80 returned to the Seattle-Tacoma airport due to a landing gear door that failed to cycle properly. According to Alaska Airlines officials, a mechanic replaced a landing light while the aircraft was on the ground before the flight. The mechanic failed to return the door to its proper position after opening it. The door failed to close properly in flight.

According to an Alaska Airlines spokesperson, the flight bound for Burbank, Calif., returned to the Sea-Tac airport as a safety precaution.

On Jan. 12, Alaska Airlines announced that Dave Prewitt the company's vice president of safety, will leave the airline next month. Prewitt will become the vice president of safety for Sikorsky Aircraft, saying the move will allow him to be closer to his family in Connecticut. The airline is currently looking for a replacement for Prewitt.