FAA fines SkyWest, which flies on behalf of larger airlines, for drug-testing violations

One of the nation's largest regional airlines has been fined $295,750 by the Federal Aviation Administration for allegedly failing to include more than 150 employees in its random drug-testing pool.

SkyWest Airlines Inc., based in St. George, Utah, also allegedly failed to receive verified negative drug test results for two other employees before hiring them to safety-sensitive positions, the FAA announced Tuesday.

SkyWest carried more than 27 million passengers last year in its 344 planes on behalf of Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines.

The airline is scheduled to have an informal conference with the FAA this month to discuss the violations.