The US FAA is proposing a $12 million civil fine against Southwest Airlines for failing to comply with safety regulations related to repairs on its fleet of B737s.
It is the second-largest fine the agency has levied against an airline.
The FAA stated that during 2006, Southwest made efforts to eliminate potential cracking of the aluminium skin on up to 44 aircraft. An FAA investigation determined that Southwest's contractor, Aviation Technical Services of Everett, Washington, failed to follow the correct procedures for the repairs, even under Southwest’s direct supervision.
Southwest returned the aircraft to service in 2009, after which the FAA "put the airline on notice that these aircraft were not in compliance" with safety regulations. The FAA said it later approved repairs to the aircraft after Southwest provided documentation proving that the repairs met safety standards, however subsequent inspections revealed errors in the repair processes.
FAA Administrator Michael Huerta said: "The FAA views maintenance very seriously, and it will not hesitate to take action against companies that fail to follow regulations.”
Southwest spokesperson Brandi King said the airline will "respond to the FAA allegations" in accordance with the agency's procedures.
"Having fully resolved the repair issues some time ago, none of the items raised in the FAA letter affect aircraft currently being operated by Southwest Airlines," she said. "As always, Southwest is committed to continuously making enhancements to our internal procedures, as well as improvements related to oversight of our repair vendors.