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United States FAA increases Southwest Airlines oversight, introduces review

The U.S. Federal Air Travel Administration is introducing a safety review of Southwest Airline companies after a series of nearmiss occurrences including some that raised severe concerns, the airline stated on Tuesday.

The evaluation triggered by numerous security occurrences is uncommon but in March the FAA stated it was initiating an official evaluation of United Airlines to guarantee the Chicago-based provider was abiding by safety regulations and the FAA imposed some restrictions on United.

Southwest validated the FAA safety evaluation on Tuesday and stated it is working carefully with the company on its evaluation of recent events. The carrier noted it just recently formed a devoted group of subject-matter experts, leaders, union partners, and the FAA to boost its existing security management system.

This group is tasked with carrying out a thorough, data-driven analysis to recognize any chances for improvement, Southwest stated.

The FAA stated on Saturday it was investigating a July 14 Southwest Airlines flight after it flew at a very low elevation over Tampa Bay, Florida. The flight was roughly 4.8 miles from the Tampa airport when it dropped to as low as about 150 feet, according to Flightradar24 information.

The FAA validated it had actually launched the security assessment. The FAA has increased oversight of Southwest Airlines to guarantee it is adhering to federal safety policies, the company said. Security will drive the timeline.

The Tampa flight was the most recent in a string of Southwest occurrences that have raised security concerns, consisting of a. Southwest 737 flight in April that came within about 400 feet. ( 122 meters) of the ocean off Hawaii after the very first officer. unintentionally pressed forward on the control column and the plane. strike an optimum descent rate of about 4,400 feet per minute.

The FAA is likewise examining another very low altitude. Southwest flight about 9 miles (14.5 km) from the Oklahoma City,. Oklahoma, airport that had departed from Las Vegas dropped to. about 500 feet.

The U.S. National Transport Security Board and FAA are. likewise examining a Southwest 737 MAX flight on May 25 that. experienced a Dutch roll at 34,000 feet while en path from. Phoenix, Arizona, to Oakland, California.

Such lateral uneven motions are named after a Dutch. ice skating method and can position major safety threats.

The firm is likewise investigating a June 25 Southwest flight. that departed from a closed runway in Portland, Maine.

(source: Reuters)