The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered the review of an agency program that supervises aging commercial aircraft. The review would look into whether the agency is asking the right questions and using all available data to ensure that older planes are flying safely.
The review would be conducted following the forced landing of a Southwest Airlines jetliner after a hole opened in its fuselage. Southwest Airlines is a leading U. S. carrier by passenger volume.
A review of FAA records reveal that since 2002, the agency has issued six orders regarding inspections for fuselage-related cracking involving older model 737s, including the 300, 400, and 500 series.
An Investigation in 2009 was ordered by FAA in response to another incident involving a Southwest jet with a smaller hole in its fuselage. Southwest paid a $7.5 million FAA fine for operating 737s without required fuselage inspections in 2006-07.
The recent FAA order requires tougher inspections for the affected jets flown by Southwest. Nearly 600 planes worldwide are expected to be affected by these orders. The new FAA program aims at ensuring the safety of aging aircrafts.
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