Southwest’s faulty jet fixes may bring $12M FAA fine

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, July 29, 2014

The Federal Aviation Administration said Monday that it planned to fine Southwest Airlines $12 million for repair violations on some of its Boeing 737 jets, citing faulty repairs it said the airline made since 2006.

Southwest has 30 days to respond to the FAA’s complaint and can negotiate to reduce the fine.

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In one long-standing case, the FAA alleges that Southwest conducted “extreme makeover” alterations to eliminate cracking on the aluminum skin of 44 of its jets. The agency said it found that a contractor, Aviation Technical Service, based in Everett, Washington, had not followed the proper repair procedures for replacing fuselage skins.

The airline responded Monday that the complaint included repairs that were fully resolved some years ago and did not affect airplanes currently in operation, according to a statement by Brandy King, an airline spokeswoman.

“We always strive for full compliance with established and approved processes and procedures,” the statement said.

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