Southwest Airlines faces 'operational emergency' with spike in out-of-service jets

Southwest Airlines faces what its own managers call an operational state of "emergency" due to an unusually high number of Southwest Boeing 737s being taken out of service for maintenance. In a memo obtained by CBS News, the airline called for all hands on deck. The spike in out-of-service planes follows our CBS News investigation into mechanics' complaints of undue pressure to put aircraft back in service faster. Kris Van Cleave reports.

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[tthappyrock]

Safety should always be the number one priority. That includes passengers, crew and anyone working on, in or around an airplane. One death and even one injury due to the failure to adhere to the highest standards for safety is one too many. It is good Southwest is working now to address safety and maintenance problems; However, it shouldn't have taken an investigatory news report to prompt action. Thank you, CBS, for your report which will result in safer travel! Hopefully, other airlines will also place greater value on keeping their customer's and employee"s safety a top priority!

[mikhailangel]

Hastened quality maintenance, jeopardize safety.

[AADFWspotters]

As a pilot in training, I have the upmost respect for people like air traffic controllers, the dispatchers, and most importantly the inspectors and powerplant mechanics. Everytime I fly an airplane hunreds of people have gone into its operational safety. People that fly commercially should think about that and say "thank you" to the pilots and flight attendants as your deboarding. It means a lot.

[angelitol]

Guess that's why they were so profitable last year. Skipping on maintenance.Bless the mechanics that stepped up.

[AlexTarazona]

As a former 15T aircraft maintainer and now I am a Registered Nurse, in both cases we have a licence to protect, in the hospital administration pushes us to take more and more critical patients to save money and I imagine is the same in SouthWest, all I can say if something happens they are going to blame the mechanic not the CEO.

[bscatcher]

So the investigation was right. That is why they all of the sudden took these planes out of service which were not good enough to be flown. They put passengers in danger.

[aldofhister]

Operational emergency = they got caught

[dav]

Southwest is not Herb's airline anymore. This is sad.

[icomarv]

I am a loyal customer of southwest airlines and I am very disappointed

[chistinelane]

Aircraft maintenance engineers are nothing less than heros

[rrcw]

An even more interesting report would be one about the handsome life of the CEO and the board of directors, and how well maintained are kept their corporate private jets.

[frankcottrell]

Give them boys and gals a contract, 7 years is too long!!!

[driil]

Thank you for bringing light to this issue

[johnferguson]

Southwest has been fighting with the union since 2012. Apparently, the union has had enough. They can easily slow down repairs causing the work to back up.

[Crifstar]

This happens almost every time mechanics are in contract talks with the company they work for. It ain't the first and it won't be the last. All you have to do is DO WHAT YOU ARE TOLD TO DO, NOTHING MORE, NOTHING LESS and you will drive management crazy because they are clueless to what mechanics actually do.

[Lizarthur]

Southwest employees, in general, are not happy. Haven’t been for years...

[thatoneguy]

Look there times when an aircraft will need to come down for "A, B, C, D" checks.. Each take TIME .. Southwest didn't schedule their aircraft's like they're supposed to.. So that's on them.. Airplane ain't flying it don't make $$$ .. But I'm an A&P mechanic & safety for the people is my 1st & only priority

[paladro]

apparently, at southwest, safety is an afterthought?

[avalon]

I remember a once "great airline" began its downward spiral in a similar fashion when its mechanics (known today as AMT'S), represented by a once powerful union, fought with the company to the bitter end. That once great airline was called Eastern and the once powerful mechanics union was known as the IAMAW. The question today is, will the two sides come to an agreement which both can accept and keep the company profitable while maintaining its workforce happy? Or, will SWA end up being also a "once great airline" that couldn't negotiate a deal with a powerful union (AMFA).

[michaelr.]

Contract talks the maintenance people NOW