JetBlue has already refunded hundreds of thousands of dollars to passengers, a Transportation Department spokesperson said Tuesday. The airline must document and report its refunds to the ...

MIAMI - The discovery of two dead stowaways in the landing gear compartment of a JetBlue Airways plane Monday night in Fort Lauderdale has reignited concerns about aviation security and the grim risks of such attempts, which have historically resulted in a high fatality rate.

This marks the first time the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has imposed a penalty on an airline for consistently delaying flights. The government lambasted this action, calling it a "prohibited unrealistic scheduling practice which can harm both passengers and fair competition across the airline industry."

Under the penalty, JetBlue must pay $1 million to the U.S. Treasury and use the remaining $1 million to compensate impacted passengers, the DOT says. Customers will receive at least $75 if they experience any future JetBlue delays of three hours or more within the next year.

In connection with one recent case, a federal grand jury on Monday indicted a 57-year-old woman that authorities say stowed away on a November flight from Kennedy Airport to Paris.