FAA orders audit after near-misses involving Southwest Airlines

United Airlines recently concluded a safety audit that restricted it from introducing new planes into commercial service or launching flights to new cities.

The FAA’s Office of Inspector General previously found that the agency "has not effectively overseen Southwest Airlines’ systems for managing safety risks." In 2018, it was discovered that Southwest frequently communicated incorrect aircraft weight and balance data to its pilots—a violation of FAA regulations. Additionally, Southwest operated aircraft in an unknown airworthiness state, including over 150,000 flights on previously owned aircraft that did not meet U.S. aviation standards—endangering 17.2 million passengers.

Despite these issues, the carrier continued operating without ensuring compliance with regulations because the FAA accepted Southwest's justification that these were low safety risks. Furthermore, FAA inspectors do not evaluate air carrier risk assessments or safety culture as part of their oversight due to a lack of guidance on how to review such assessments or evaluate safety culture.

Since the pandemic began, the FAA has 'closed' nine out of eleven recommendations aimed at addressing deficiencies in monitoring Southwest Airlines' safety practices. However, four and a half years later, there are still unresolved issues acknowledged by both parties.