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Mar 13, 2008 11:30 am US/Central
Cracks Surface In Southwest Inspections
Airline Puts Most Jets Back In Service
4 To Remain Grounded For Maintenance
DALLAS (AP) ―
Southwest Airlines said Thursday they discovered cracks on four of the airplanes it grounded for inspections yesterday, the airline said. The other 34 airplanes it grounded on Wednesday have returned to service.
The Dallas-based airline
grounded 43 jets on Wednesday to perform safety inspections. Five were previously scheduled for "heavy maintenance."
The move to ground the dozens more came after the FAA proposed to fine the airline more than $10 million for allowing some of its jets to fly without performing mandatory safety inspections.
Ashley Rogers, a Southwest spokesperson, said 34 of the planes were cleared and returned to service Thursday. Four of those original sidelined 38 need "skin maintenance," she said adding that the cracks were found on the skin on the window belt panel that runs underneath the windows.
Southwest said its
Thursday schedule was back to normal. The airline had to cancel 120 flights Wednesday because of the grounded aircraft.
Last week, the FAA proposed a $10.2 million fine against the airline for inspection violations. The proposed fine is the largest against an airline. As of Wednesday, Southwest has not decided whether to appeal or pay the fine.
Two local FAA inspectors, who became whistleblowers, complained last year that their FAA bosses allowed Southwest to fly 46 of its jets despite cracks in the fuselages, or "skin cracks." Instead, the airline kept flying for another eight days; six of those jets had cracks and were repaired, reports show.
On Tuesday, the airline announced it has placed three employees on leave. It also hired an outside consultant to review its maintenance procedures.
At the start of the week, CBS 11 News reported the FBI is investigating an alleged threat against one of the FAA whistleblowers in relation to their complaints. Click here to read that story.
(© 2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
