Tue, Aug 19, 2008
Faces DOJ Action; Airline Considers Options
When you don't pay your bills, you
run the risk of having creditors call. When an airline doesn't pay
an FAA-mandated fine, it runs the risk of drawing the ire of the US
Attorney's office.
That's the scenario now facing Southwest Airlines. The
Associated Press reports the low-cost carrier has been ordered to
pay a $10.2 million fine proposed by the FAA no later than August
29, or else the matter will be referred to the Justice
Department.
As ANN reported, the FAA imposed the record
fine after the agency discovered from June 18, 2006 to March 14,
2007, the low-cost carrier operated 46 Boeing 737-300 and -500
"Classic" models without performing mandatory inspections for
fuselage fatigue cracking. Subsequently, the airline found that six
of the 46 airplanes had fatigue cracks.
In that time, the FAA said, those planes flew 59,791
passenger-carrying flights.
Southwest disputed the fine, but FAA regional counsel Lynette
Word determined the fine "is appropriate," notes a letter sent
August 12 to Southwest lawyer Dane Jaques. If Southwest fails to
pay on time, the FAA "will refer the case to the United States
Attorney's office for whatever action they deem appropriate," Word
adds.
A spokesperson for the Dallas-based carrier -- which, it must be
noted, is statistically one of the safest airlines worldwide --
declined to comment on the matter, other than stating the letter
"was part of the process" and the airline is now reviewing its
options, reports Reuters.
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