US airline Southwest is facing an audit from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after several close call incidents involving its aircraft in recent months, the airline confirmed this week.
The low-cost carrier confirmed the regulator had stepped up its investigations into the airline’s safety record shortly after a Southwest aircraft came just 150ft from the ground while flying in poor weather in Florida, despite being five miles from an airport at the time.
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Southwest revealed it was also beginning internal analysis of its safety procedures following the incidents, it said: “We recently formed a dedicated team of subject-matter experts and leaders from Southwest, our union partners, and the FAA to bolster our existing Safety Management System.
“This group is tasked with performing an in-depth, data-driven analysis to identify any opportunities for improvement.”
The 14 July incident in Tampa appears to have been one close call too many for the FAA after the regulator had already begun multiple investigations into Southwest aircraft incidents, such as a “Dutch Roll” event in May and a takeoff on a closed runway in June.
The airline informed employees of an investigation into an aircraft which came just 400ft away from the ocean during a sudden drop caused by an adverse weather event off the coast of a Hawaiian island in April, though no injuries were reported.
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By GlobalDataFollowing the news of the FAA’s audit, the Southwest Airlines Pilot Association sent a memo to its members to say that pilots working for the airline should expect an increased presence from the regulator, including checks from inspectors during training exercises.
The news will be especially unwelcome for the airline as it deals with a leadership uphaul attempt from activist investor Elliott Investment Management, which revealed a $1.9bn stake in the company in June and said it would demand a change in operations after the airline reported losses in Q1 2024.
Elliott’s demands led Southwest to enact a Shareholders Rights Plan earlier this month, described as a “poison pill” due to the fact it would make it significantly more expensive for the investment firm to acquire a managing stake in the company.
