Southwest Airlines is pushing back against more allegations of a cozy relationship with the FAA.
A government report about to be published will say the airline did not prioritize safety and the regulator failed to take action.
The inspector general report alleged Southwest pilots flew more than 17 million passengers on aircraft with unverified maintenance records over a two year period.
The draft report was seen by the Wall Street Journal.
It was also critical of the FAA’s role.
The FAA’s lax oversight ‘served to justify continued noncompliance with safety regulations.’
The inspector general is due to publish its findings after a 18-month investigation.
"It is clear that the agency is not yet effectively navigating the balance between industry collaboration and managing safety risks at the carrier," the report said.
Southwest vehemently disagrees with ‘unsubstantiated references to Southwest’s safety culture.’
"We have communicated our disappointment in the draft audit report to the OIG and will continue to communicate any concerns directly with its office. Our friends, our families board our aircraft and not a single one of us would put anything above their safety," Southwest said.
