Southwest Suspends Workers Amid Inquiry

Southwest Airlines suspended three employees Tuesday in connection with a record $10.2 million fine issued against the carrier last week for knowingly flying jets that had not received critical safety inspections. Two whistle-blowers have alleged that the safety problems existed for years at the carrier and that they faced retribution within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for trying to enforce regulations, according to documents obtained by USA TODAY. Southwest CEO Gary Kelly said the three employees were placed on "administrative leave" based on the preliminary results of an internal investigation he had ordered. "I am concerned with some of our findings as to our controls over procedures within our maintenance airworthiness directive and regulatory compliance processes," Kelly said in a news release.
More