US watchdog auditing FAA checks of Southwest after engine failure

The US DoT’s inspector general is auditing the FAA’s oversight of Southwest after a midair incident in which an engine exploded and one person was killed. The inspector general’s office said in a memo it is opening a new review after “recent events have raised concerns about FAA’s safety oversight, particularly for Southwest Airlines.” The inspector general said “our objective is to assess FAA’s oversight of Southwest Airlines’ systems for managing risk.” The office will write a report after it completes the review and may make recommendations. The FAA, which oversees U.S. civil aviation, said on Thursday it welcomes the inspector general’s “examination of the FAA’s oversight of Southwest Airlines.” The FAA said its oversight system is designed “to identify potential risks before they become serious problems and ensure that corrective action is taken.” Southwest said it has “a very transparent and professional relationship with” the FAA and welcomes “any additional enhancements or oversights” into its safety management system.<br/>