The government is increasing oversight at Southwest Airlines, after a slew of concerning (and puzzling) safety incidents…
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Government scrutinizing Southwest’s safety issues
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently auditing Southwest Airlines’ safety policies, after several recent close calls. A team of experts and leaders from the airline, unions, and the FAA, are partnering as part of this investigation. Here’s how Southwest Airlines explains this in a statement:
“This group is tasked with performing an in-depth, data-driven analysis to identify any opportunities for improvement. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees.”
We don’t have more details about what exactly this process will entail, and what the implications are for Southwest in the short term.
This comes after a shocking number of recent close calls at Southwest. Just in recent months, we’ve seen a scary go around in Hawaii, a dangerously low approach in Oklahoma City, an inflight Dutch roll, taking off from a closed runway, and a dangerously low approach in Tampa. And those are just several of the incidents that have been reported and have been made public, so who knows how many other incidents are out there.
This isn’t the first airline to get increased scrutiny from the FAA. Back in March 2024, the FAA announced it would increase oversight of United Airlines, following a series of safety issues, most of which related to maintenance.
I’m curious what this investigation determines
I’m happy to see that the FAA is at least investigating what’s going on at Southwest, because the number of issues that we’ve seen lately just isn’t normal.
The question is, has Southwest just had really bad luck, or what’s the underlying problem with the company’s safety culture? Admittedly Southwest is a huge airline, and operates a lot of flights each day. However, a disproportionate number of the recent incidents involving pilot error are at Southwest.
Just about all US airlines have more junior cockpits than they did before the pandemic, given how many new pilots have been hired. However, what’s specifically going on at Southwest that’s causing this? It’s beyond my pay grade, but at this point I think it’s hard to fully chalk this up to a coincidence. I’m curious to see what the experts determine.
Bottom line
The FAA has opened an investigation into Southwest Airlines’ safety issues, after several recent close calls. The number of incidents at Southwest lately just doesn’t make sense, so hopefully this initiative eventually makes the skies safer. I’m curious to see what comes of this.
What do you make of the FAA auditing Southwest?
My comment is "FAA, What took so long?" Maybe FAA is worried they totally messed up inspecting, or covered up, so many, or any for that matter, of Boeing 737 MAXs.
If you listen to the voice of the pilot close.
You know why he was so incompetent.
It’s Imposable to fire him.
It’s all blown for show. For anyone to think any FAA involvement can help resolve safety issues you must reside in alternate fantasy. They are govt employees who need job protection.
Things started downhill when they stopped serving peanuts ... just say'in!
Your use of terminology in this line is questionable ... "The government is increasing oversight at Southwest Airlines ..." if they are increasing oversight that means they are missing more.
oversight
noun
1
a
: watchful and responsible care
you to whom oversight of the University is entrusted
—N. M. Pusey
b
: regulatory supervision
congressional oversight
The new manager was given oversight of the project.
[Merriam-Webster]
Care to explain the difference between highlighting safety incidents and seniority in the cockpit compared to other folks highlighting initiatives/quotas for increased diversity in the cockpit and safety incidents?
Why is one an obvious discourse but the other shouted at with every “ism” in the book?
@ Charles -- For the record, I don't think there's anything wrong with investigating the cause of incidents, including the people behind them, their training, etc. If it's determined that things only go wrong when women and minorities are in the cockpit (which I think is what you're getting at?), then that's absolutely a conversation that should be had.
But there's no evidence of that being the case. I mean, we've heard the ATC audio...
@ Charles -- For the record, I don't think there's anything wrong with investigating the cause of incidents, including the people behind them, their training, etc. If it's determined that things only go wrong when women and minorities are in the cockpit (which I think is what you're getting at?), then that's absolutely a conversation that should be had.
But there's no evidence of that being the case. I mean, we've heard the ATC audio from most of these incidents, and, umm, I'm not sure it does a great job supporting the DEI narrative, if we're going to stereotype.
The problem is that the second there's any issue with any plane, some people immediately start yelling "DEI." Facts don't matter.
No matter the industry, experience matters. Someone with 20,000 hours is a better pilot than they were when they had 2,000 hours. And let's be honest, for the past several years, airlines have been hiring pilots with the absolute minimum qualifications (which are still high), because they couldn't get enough pilots. That's true regardless of gender or race.
Ben - I wasn’t saying DEI initiatives had anything to do with this or any specific incident.
I’m asking why commenters (and you yourself) have made insinuations (or just clear cut accusations) whenever anyone brings up diversity quotas in the cockpit, when apparently it’s appropriate to bring up experience? Are you saying that the number of hours someone has is the only metric or indicator available to conclude how good of an aviator someone is?
...Ben - I wasn’t saying DEI initiatives had anything to do with this or any specific incident.
I’m asking why commenters (and you yourself) have made insinuations (or just clear cut accusations) whenever anyone brings up diversity quotas in the cockpit, when apparently it’s appropriate to bring up experience? Are you saying that the number of hours someone has is the only metric or indicator available to conclude how good of an aviator someone is?
Obviously that doesn’t work in any industries that are clearly only about skill (I.e the NBA), so curious why it works in aviation.
At the end of the day, I’m just asking if you agree there are similarities between discussions on experience versus discussions on diversity quotas, when it comes to safety.
@ Charles -- It's fair to ask what makes someone a "good" pilot. I think obviously the most important thing is having the proper licenses, which is an absolute minimum requirement (and those are pretty high requirements in the US).
I'd then say that the number of hours would be the next best metric by which you can judge a pilot, along with their records at the airline in terms of how they did on check rides, etc.
Hours on type is important as well as the total flying hours. How many accidents have we seen where a pilot was experienced, with a lot of flying time overall, but relatively new to the type of plane they are flying.
I'll answer the question you're really asking, and let's not pretend it's anything otherwise: No, you still can't use the N word. Got it?
RCB - Thanks for proving my point.
20,000 hour pilots may have more experience but “better”. Sure … in general. Newer pilots bring less a complacent approach. Look back at historical US incidents … complaceny and fatigue are bigger factors than experience.
So the DOT is on Delta’s butt, the Dept of Labor is on UA’s case and now the FAA is on WN’s.
Now when did you say the elections are?
You're right, no investigations or oversight is needed. Let's move on with our lives. Customers be damned.
Look the guy owns positions in DL and WN is mad that the government is investigating the airlines for quite openly evident failings in their operations lately. You would think DOT investigating DL and FAA overseeing WN would make the airline better, but it is problematic for Tim Dunn because that breaks his m Best Airline in World Bubble
do you honestly think any of the way the airlines is new this year?
and let's also not forget that UA was also under a safety audit and has traded it in for a labor audit - as it drags out labor negotiations not unlike AA whose on-time once again today is only slightly better than DL's.
and do you honestly think that other industries aren't failing customers just as badly if not worse than airlines?
I stand by my statement.
How did reduced FAA oversight of Boeing during 737 MAX development and certification turn out?
And Boeing will get a slap on the hand and keep going just like United did with its safety audit this year
I guess this Delta meltdown is really starting to get to you.
even though you clearly wish it did, no, I am just fine.
And when the AS-HA merger gets shot down, my point about the current administration having a hard on for the airline industry will be confirmed.
HA stock took a big hit today.
You called it, Ben.
Definitely seems like the right move.