Southwest Airlines allowed to fly 'unsafe' planes for months

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Justin - No one is more passionate about the safety of our Customers and Employees than we are, and it%u2019s important for our Customers to know that this situation was never and is not now a safety of flight issue.

Some media reports are suggesting that the FAA plans to fine Southwest, but to date, we have not received any notification or indication from the FAA that that is what they plan to do.

The inspections in question were one of many routine, redundant, and overlapping inspections of our fleet. And, as you and the WSJ point out, we discovered the missed inspection ourselves, informed the FAA, and promptly completed the missed inspections in March 2007. The FAA approved our actions and considered the matter closed as of April 2007.

Again, the safety of our Customers, Employees, and aircraft is always our number one concern. Southwest has an excellent maintenance program, and this experience has helped improve the overall safety of the fleet.

Paula Berg
Southwest Airlines

3-06-2008 @ 1:26PM

Justin Glow said...

Thanks for the reply, Paula.

3-07-2008 @ 10:28AM

Jeffrey C. Jurew said...

I worked for McDonnell Douglas as a structural engineer: skins, frames, and pressure boundaries. Nothing has changed in this industry...these aircraft are designed and built with the finest craftmanship that there is...doesn't it seem odd that there is scant news regarding third-world countries who have purchased the "old series" of aircraft built here regarding structural failures, or, any non-pilot error issues in the press? So what the f*** FAA...these ships are top drawer...back off. Guess you need a job, huh

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