Southwest Faces Increased FAA Scrutiny Following Incident String

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is launching a safety review of Southwest after a series of close calls and other incidents.

Southwest 737 MAX
A Southwest 737 MAX 8 in Las Vegas. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
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Key Takeaways:

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is launching a safety review of Southwest after a series of close calls and other incidents, the Wall Street Journal reported. The airline has confirmed the FAA’s safety review and said it is working closely with the agency on its evaluation of recent events.

The FAA has increased oversight of Southwest Airlines to ensure it is complying with federal safety regulations, the agency said. The review comes after a string of low-altitude alerts were issued to Southwest aircraft on approach.

In a statement, Southwest said it had formed a dedicated team of subject-matter experts and leaders from the airline, its union partners, and the FAA to bolster its existing safety management system.

The FAA has been stepping up its oversight of airlines in the wake of safety incidents. In March, it announced increased monitoring of United following a series of close calls and other issues there.

Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com in February 2013 and has spent more than a decade covering the airline business. His work has been featured by CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. His aviation experience spans airport operations, Part 135 regulatory compliance, and airline crew workforce planning, along with time behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 and interviews with airline executives. Ryan now serves as Group President of Firecrown Media’s Aviation Group. He holds a B.S. in Air Transportation Management and an MBA from Arizona State University and teaches Airline Management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
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