LA Times: Southwest Inspecting Fleet After Fatal Accident

Southwest Airlines has begun ultrasound engine inspections of virtually its entire fleet of 700 planes, the Los Angeles Times reported.

After an engine failed because of suspected metal fatigue during a New York-to-Dallas flight — killing Jennifer Riordan, who was sitting next to a window that was blown out by shrapnel — the carrier began inspections of its older CFM56 engines, triggering massive cancellations and delays for Southwest flights.

But Southwest said it would go beyond the FAA requirement and inspect all of the roughly 700 Boeing 737-700 and 737-800 model Southwest planes installed with CFM56 engines, the L.A. Times reported.

There are only about a dozen planes in the Southwest fleet that do not use CFM engines, the news outlet reported.

"We have minimized flight disruptions this past week through actions such as proactive aircraft routings to cover open trips, performing inspections overnight, and utilizing spare aircraft, when available," the airline said in a statement, the L.A. Times reported.

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