FAA Launches Audit Into Southwest After Safety Incidents
Skift Take
Key Points
- The FAA is auditing Southwest Airlines after multiple safety incidents.
- Southwest is collaborating with the FAA and forming a group to enhance its safety management system.
- Notable incidents include a plane flying too low, taking off from a closed runway, and experiencing a 'Dutch roll.'
Summary
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has initiated an audit of Southwest Airlines following several safety incidents, including planes flying too low and taking off from closed runways. Southwest is cooperating with the FAA and has formed a group comprising airline leaders, union members, and FAA representatives to improve its safety management system. The FAA is also investigating specific incidents such as a flight dropping into the ocean and another experiencing a 'Dutch roll.' This audit follows a similar one conducted on United Airlines earlier this year.
The Federal Aviation Administration is launching an audit of Southwest Airlines after a string of safety incidents, the carrier confirmed to Skift.
Some incidents during the past few months include one where the plane flew too low and another where a plane took off from a closed runway.
Southwest said it is working closely with the FAA. The carrier has also formed a group of Southwest leaders, union members and representatives from the FAA to strengthen its current safety management system.
“This group is tasked with performing an in-depth, data-driven analysis to identify any opportunities for improvement,” Southwest said in a statement. “Nothing is more important to Southwest than the Safety of our Customers and Employees.”
The FAA said in a statement to Skift that it is increasing its oversight of Southwest to ensure the airline is complying with federal safety regulations. "Safety will drive the timeline" of the investigation, the FAA said.
A String of Incidents
One of Southwest’s most recent incidents involved a plane flying as low as 150 feet over water while it was still around 5 miles away from landing at the airport in Tampa. The pilots then landed in Fort Lauderdale instead. The FAA is also investigating that incident.
The agency is also looking into a Southwest flight that plunged several feet into the ocean off the coast of Hawaii in April.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating a Southwest plane that did a “Dutch roll” during a flight from Phoenix to Oakland. A “Dutch roll” is when a tail slides and the plane rocks side to side.
United Airlines faced a similar audit earlier this year. As a result, United had to delay the launch of two international routes.
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Photo Caption: A Southwest Airlines plane at Newark Liberty International Airport. Vincenzo Pace Vincenzo Pace
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