Southwest Parts Under Investigation

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has opened an inquiry into why Southwest installed unauthorized parts on at least 42 aircraft and how the airline’s maintenance procedures did not catch the issue. The parts in question, exhaust gate assembly fittings, which protect rear wing panels from hot engine exhaust, do not pose an immediate safety issue, investigators told the Wall Street Journal. But the incident caused some delays for Southwest on Saturday, as the carrier grounded 46 jets. Following negotiations, FAA granted a 10-day extension to Southwest, allowing use of those aircraft while the problem is addressed.
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