Three Suspended In Southwest Airlines Safety Probe
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Last Updated: April 23, 2008
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Southwest Airlines suspended three employees in response to government allegations it knowingly flew planes that had not been properly inspected for potential structural flaws, the carrier said on Tuesday.
 The airline also said it would review its maintenance oversight practices with the help of an outside expert and make any changes to ensure that it is in full compliance with US safety regulations. "These are important and necessary steps," Southwest Chief Executive Gary Kelly said in a statement.
Last week, the FAA proposed a record $10.2 million fine against Southwest for
allegedly failing, over a period of several months in 2006 and 2007, to complete
required aircraft safety inspections on 46 older Boeing 737s. Safety and
congressional investigators said the planes should have been grounded although
the airline said at no time was the safety of any aircraft compromised.
Southwest said it was given clearance by the FAA and Boeing to fly the planes
while it completed the routine checks for small fuselage cracks. Cracks were
found on six planes and fixed. Two senior FAA officials in Dallas, where
Southwest is based, have been reassigned over the matter, the FAA said last
week.
Kelly said Southwest took the latest action after an internal investigation.
It did not identify the three employees or describe their duties but said they
had been placed on administrative leave. "I have insisted that we have the
appropriate maintenance organizational and governance structure in place to
ensure that the right decisions are being made," Kelly said.
In addition to the FAA, which is investigating another possible safety
violation at Southwest, a congressional committee and the Transportation
Department inspector general are conducting their own investigations.
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