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Southwest Probed After Hole Opens Midflight

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 15, 2009 1:16 AM CDT

(Newser) – Southwest Airlines' maintenance practices are coming under tight scrutiny after a football-sized hole opened in the top of a Boeing 737 midflight and forced an emergency landing, reports the Dallas Morning News. Nobody was injured, but the NTSB and FAA have launched probes and lawmakers are being briefed on the investigation.

The airline was fined $7.5 million earlier this year for allowing planes to fly with fatigue cracks, and the same problem is suspected to have caused Monday's potentially catastrophic incident. "It does seems like fatigue to me, based on what I’ve learned,” said one expert. “I don’t think Southwest is an unsafe airline, but they’ve had some issues."

An investigator looks at a hole on top of a Southwest Airlines plane. (AP Photo/The Charleston Gazette, Chris Dorst)

An investigator looks at a hole on top of a Southwest Airlines plane which had to make an emergency landing in Charleston, West Virginia on Monday. (AP Photo/The Charleston Gazette, Chris Dorst)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 5 comments

armywife

Jul 15, 2009 9:12 AM CDT

expensive airlines have had troubles like these too, so i dont think that southwest's low airfares are necessarily a direct correlation to maintenance issues. we've been flying southwest for years in my family, so i hope they get this straightened out.

kokuaguy

Jul 15, 2009 8:08 AM CDT

Hope you're right. Still, I'll probably choose United when possible.

oldgoat

Jul 15, 2009 7:57 AM CDT

If their maint work is this poor I think it will be worth the extra money not to have to deal with a hole in the plane and trying out those pretty little masks.

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Southwest Probed After Hole Opens Midflight

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

FAA • aircraft • Southwest Airlines • Boeing 737

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

US Looks to Grant Drones Airspace—Next to Your Plane

Civilian law enforcement and others increasingly want flying robots

Feds to Airlines: Stop Hiding Ticket Fees, Taxes

Carriers must advertise full price starting next month

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But lowly passengers? No such luck

FAA Chief Resigns After DWI Arrest

Randy Babbitt will step down after weekend misfire

FAA Chief on Leave After DWI Arrest

Randy Babbitt was driving on wrong side of road, cops say

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Newser By Users

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