The Federal Aviation Administration said it is investigating whether Southwest Airlines followed safety orders dealing with older jets.
Federal inspectors believe the airline, along with a repair shop near Seattle, conducted repairs on 44 737s without getting FAA approval. The aircraft were used on more than 100,000 flights, said one source to the AP; details have yet to be released.
The FAA is concerned with the way Southwest and Aviation Technical Services (ATS) worked on the fuselages of the aircraft. Southwest and ATS replaced the patches with new aluminum skin on some aircraft. While Southwest and ATS received approval from The Boeing Company, they did not ask the FAA. The inspectors believe mechanics did not adequately reinforce the aircraft frame with the new skin panels, but the FAA granted retroactive approval to the work.
FAA officials in Seattle are handling the investigation, and are in the process of deciding whether or not to fine Southwest.
