State fines aerospace company more than $1.3 million after explosion at plant

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — The state is fining an aerospace company more than $1.3 million for safety violations after an explosion injured 17 workers at a factory last July.


Zodiac Cabin & Structures Support, which makes aircraft interiors, has 15 days to appeal the ruling.

The explosion occurred at a carbon fiber production plant in Newport, which is about 50 miles north of Spokane.

The state Department of Labor & Industries on Tuesday said the explosion could have been prevented if Zodiac had used required safeguards to ensure that a curing oven was used safely.

The Newport plant has reopened. It makes plastics and other composite materials used in the production of airplane cabin interiors.