Saguaro
03-12-2008, 12:32 PM
DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ― Dallas' Southwest Airlines confirmed Wednesday that it has grounded 41 jets for safety inspections.
All of the aircraft are Boeing 737s, which is the only jet Southwest flies.
A Southwest spokeswoman tells CBS 11 News that the grounded jets are in several locations, including Dallas' Love Field, and a Southwest maintenance base in Chicago.
The spokeswoman would not specify what inspectors are looking for, but she did say they are not looking for possible structural damage.
The move comes in the wake of a proposed fine by the FAA last week. The agency wants to fine Southwest more than $10 million for alleged inspection violations. The proposed fine is the largest ever against an airline. Southwest has said it will appeal.
The FAA claims Southwest missed required safety inspections for dozens of its jets and kept flying some of the planes before they were inspected. Some of the jets that were kept flying allegedly had cracks in their fuselages.
Tuesday, the airline announced it has placed three employees on leave. It also hired an outside consultant to review its maintenance procedures.
Monday, CBS 11 News reported that the FBI is investigating an alleged threat against an FAA whistleblower in relation to the agency's investigation.
http://cbs11tv.com/local/southwest.airlines.planes.2.675659.html
All of the aircraft are Boeing 737s, which is the only jet Southwest flies.
A Southwest spokeswoman tells CBS 11 News that the grounded jets are in several locations, including Dallas' Love Field, and a Southwest maintenance base in Chicago.
The spokeswoman would not specify what inspectors are looking for, but she did say they are not looking for possible structural damage.
The move comes in the wake of a proposed fine by the FAA last week. The agency wants to fine Southwest more than $10 million for alleged inspection violations. The proposed fine is the largest ever against an airline. Southwest has said it will appeal.
The FAA claims Southwest missed required safety inspections for dozens of its jets and kept flying some of the planes before they were inspected. Some of the jets that were kept flying allegedly had cracks in their fuselages.
Tuesday, the airline announced it has placed three employees on leave. It also hired an outside consultant to review its maintenance procedures.
Monday, CBS 11 News reported that the FBI is investigating an alleged threat against an FAA whistleblower in relation to the agency's investigation.
http://cbs11tv.com/local/southwest.airlines.planes.2.675659.html