Southwest Airlines has always been regarded as a well-run airline, but we may have to reconsider that now. Last week, the FAA fined the airline over $10 million dollars because somehow the airline missed inspections for airframe cracks on about 50 of its aircraft.
A House committee is investigating both the airline and the FAA. It seems the FAA should have grounded the planes for an inspection last year, but at least one FAA inspector failed to do his job, and allowed the planes to continue to fly.
That's troubling for someone like me, who flies Southwest rather regularly for work. It's troubling that the airline would continue to fly planes that missed an inspection, possibly putting the lives of hundreds of people in danger (Why? For more profit?).
It's just as troubling that the FAA would allow it to happen. This agency has the lives of millions of airline passengers in its hands each year. To allow any airline to miss this many inspections is unimaginable.
Yesterday, the airline took corrective action. They grounded 38 aircraft (5 others were already offline and being inspected). The planes are expected to be properly inspected and flying again by today.
CEO Gary Kelly said, "We have been a safe company. I believe we are a safe company. I am committed to making sure we become safer still."
I hope he's telling the truth.
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