Southwest Airlines in maintenance ‘emergency’ with more jets grounded

Southwest Airlines declared an “operational emergency” Friday because of an unusually high number of aircraft taken out of service for maintenance, and ordered all scheduled mechanics to show up for work or risk being fired. Workers “alleging illness” will be required to provide a doctor’s note on their first day back at work, the airline said in a memo. Some workers might be called in on overtime, the carrier said, and those refusing to report for duty could face firing. “This is not the type of communication I (or any leader) want to issue, but it is necessary to get our aircraft back in service in order to serve our customers,” according to the memo from Lonnie Warren, senior director of technical operations. The number of planes taken out of service recently has more than doubled from the daily average of about 20, Southwest said. <br/>