The Transportation Department is conducting an extra layer of scrutiny into safety and maintenance procedures at Southwest Airlines by reviewing the FAA’s current oversight of the airline.
It comes after the April accident when a Southwest Airlines flight suffered a catastrophic engine malfunction which caused the death of one passenger.
The DOT Inspector General will look into the relationship between the FAA and the airline amid allegations the relationship between the two has gotten too cozy.
The DOT audit will focus on the actions of the FAA’s office in Dallas, where Southwest is based.
There have been previous allegations that safety concerns about Southwest maintenance issues were ignored by FAA officials.
"Recent events have raised concerns about FAA’s safety oversight, particularly for Southwest Airlines," the DOT Inspector General said in a statement.
The DOT launched a similar review of the FAA’s oversight of Allegiant and American Airlines last month.
Southwest said it has ‘a very transparent and professional relationship with the Federal Aviation Administration.’
"Our absolute goal at Southwest is to meet or exceed every requirement of our safety management system, and we believe we are held accountable to that goal by the FAA. That said, we are always seeking new ways to strengthen our practices."
