FAA failed to assure safety of Southwest Airlines
(CNN) — A government report says poor Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) oversight allowed Southwest Airlines to put millions of lives at risk.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Inspector General conducted an 18 month audit.
The audit was sparked by a whistleblower complaint about the FAA’s oversight of Southwest and a “number of” operational issues at the airline, including pilot training deficiencies and inaccurate information being provided to pilots prior to flights departing.
The report found Southwest flew 88 planes it bought from foreign carriers without properly verifying their airworthiness.
The report said those planes flew more than 150,000 flights, putting more than 17 million passengers at risk.
Southwest says it has made significant progress in addressing the issues in the report which includes enhancing the integrity of its weight and balance program.
It says all of those “used” planes have undergone a comprehensive inspection or are currently being inspected.
LATEST STORIES:
- Substitute teacher arrested, accused of trying to record student in bathroom
- Hudson Falls High School helps students dress to impress for prom
- Sheffield murder-suicide documents released by Berkshire Co. DA, case closed
- Burglary and rape most reported crimes on American college campuses
- Red Lobster releases heart-shaped boxes of Cheddar Bay Biscuits for Valentine’s Day