Quantcast

Southwest Airlines mandates extra pilot training after multiple safety incidents

Southwest Airlines mandates extra pilot training after multiple safety incidents
Policy
Webp 6titncb125j5v79amc9x56vg30x2
AVWeb | AVWeb

Southwest Airlines pilots will be required to complete additional training following a series of safety incidents that triggered a review by U.S. regulators.

Bloomberg, which obtained the company memo, reports that these one-day training sessions are designed to facilitate discussions among crew members about specific incidents and enhance collaboration for better risk management. The airline plans to begin the additional training sessions at its Dallas headquarters in November with sessions continuing into next year.

“Over the past few months, we have seen an increase in safety events,” the memo noted. It went on to highlight that “meaningful work is underway to address these events and advance our safety.”

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

The airline has faced several safety-related incidents this year that prompted the FAA to launch a review in July. In April, a Southwest 737 MAX 8 came within 400 feet of the Pacific Ocean during a landing attempt at Lihue Airport in Hawaii. In May, another jet experienced a phenomenon known as a Dutch roll in-flight, and in June, a Southwest aircraft descended to roughly 500 feet while still 8 miles from its intended runway at an Oklahoma City airport.

Earlier this week, FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker commended Southwest’s proactive approach, calling it a “healthy sign” and noted that the carrier has “tended to be in front of the issue as this has developed.”

Meanwhile, the FAA says it is nearly finished with conducting a similar safety review of United Airlines.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Southwest Airlines, the largest carrier in the U.S. by passengers, operates approximately 4,000 daily flights across its network.

Apr 23, 2025

The story of Kalitta Air and its founder, Conrad "Connie" Kalitta, is rooted in a deep passion for drag racing that eventually led to the establishment of an international cargo airline.

Apr 23, 2025

The New York to Los Angeles flight route is one of the busiest in the United States.

Apr 23, 2025

The Airbus A220 is making strides in Europe, particularly with three airlines operating some of the longest routes on this regional jet.

Apr 23, 2025

Air India, the leading airline connecting India and the United Kingdom, faces increasing competition from British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and India's low-cost carrier IndiGo.

Apr 23, 2025

Delta Air Lines' maintenance arm, Delta TechOps, has secured a new contract with UPS Airlines for service on its Pratt & Whitney PW2000 engines.

Apr 23, 2025