Southwest Airlines Grounds 41 Boeing 737 Planes

[AeroSpace News]

Oooooops.

Seems like better late than never is the mindset at Southwest Airlines - and the FAA.

After giving, I thought, the public the impression that the aircraft that were not inspected in the incident that motivated the FAA to fine the airline over $10 million dollars, were finally inspected, it turns out they were not. At least not in the manner required by the FARs.

Nor did the FAA order the grounding of these aircraft. It appears they new up until today, 12 March 2008, that the 737s were carrying paying passengers in revenue airline service sans inspection!

So overnight Southwest grounded all 41 Boeings.

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[AeroSpace News]

Source: FAA

Statement on Southwest Airlines

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Acting Administrator of the FAA Robert A. Sturgell met today with the senior leadership of Southwest Airlines. Gary Kelly, Southwest’s Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board, briefed the Administrator and his top safety executives on the steps the airline is taking to ensure its aircraft comply with all airworthiness directives.

Mr. Kelly updated Mr. Sturgell on the progress of reviews being conducted by Southwest’s maintenance staff and an independent group hired by the airline. The FAA is also conducting it own review of Southwest’s maintenance practices.

Southwest Airlines notified the FAA that, as part of an internal safety audit, they last night grounded 41 aircraft until they could verify with the FAA that they had correctly followed inspection guidance stated in an airworthiness directive related to a specific area of the aircraft surrounding the windows on 737-300’s and -500’s.