Southwest safety review ends after no major issues found

The US FAA has concluded an enhanced review of Southwest Airlines Co. after finding no “significant safety issues,” the agency said in a statement. The aviation safety regulator in July launched the audit after a series of flight mishaps at the carrier, including a plane that plunged to within 400 feet of the ocean off the coast of Hawaii and another in which an aircraft took off from a closed runway. Following the incidents, Southwest required all of its pilots to undergo additional training at its Dallas headquarters. “Southwest Airlines appreciates the opportunity to engage with the FAA as part of our mutual dedication to safety,” the carrier said in a statement. “Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees.” The FAA also recently closed a separate review of United Airlines Holdings Inc., after finding no significant safety issues with that carrier. <br/>