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Southwest Airlines Confirms Accident; Our Hearts Are With Those Affected

LindaRutherford
Employee
Employee

Thursday, May 17 5:45 PM

 

Southwest has completed the fan blade inspections on the CFM56-7B engines that power its Boeing 737-700 and 737-800 fleets. Southwest reports no additional findings of subsurface cracks.

 

The inspections were part of an existing CFM56-7B engine inspection program that Southwest voluntarily accelerated.  As part of the existing Southwest Maintenance Program, all CFM56-7B engine blades receive recurring inspections at, or before, every 3,000 aircraft cycles or 5,000 hours, whichever occurs first.

 

The completed inspections meet and exceed all applicable FAA Airworthiness Directives, as well as the CFM56-7B Service Bulletins issued by the manufacturer.

 

Monday, April 23 5:00 PM

 

Last Tuesday, Southwest shared our plan to voluntarily accelerate inspections of CFM engine fan blades throughout our entire Boeing 737-700/-800 Fleet. We are on track to inspect all CFM engine fan blades on the -700s and -800s within 30 days of our proactive inspection program initiated on Tuesday, April 17, 2018.

 

This week, we will continue working to minimize flight disruptions by performing inspections overnight while aircraft are not flying and utilizing spare aircraft during the day, when available. We anticipate minimal delays or cancellations each day this week due to the inspections.

 

As a point of reference, last week’s inspections affected less than one percent of our 4,000 scheduled flights each day. We expect approximately one to two percent of our flights to be affected over the coming days as we complete the voluntary, accelerated inspections.

 

Customers on affected flights will be notified of any changes to their travel plans through proactive updates. As always, Customers are encouraged to check their flight status on Southwest.com.

 

Friday, April 20 6:45 PM

 

Southwest issued a statement following the Federal Aviation Administration's emergency airworthiness directive that was issued late this afternoon:

 

Southwest Airlines acknowledges the issuance of Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2018-09-51 by the Federal Aviation Administration to airlines operating CFM56-7B engines. The existing Southwest Airlines maintenance program meets or exceeds all the requirements specified in the Airworthiness Directive.

 

Thursday, April 19 10:15 PM

 

Please watch this video from our Chairman & CEO Gary Kelly that includes information about our engine maintenance program.

 

 

 

Wednesday, April 18 8:45 PM

 

Good evening. I wanted to share with you words from the Captain and First Officer of Flight #1380: 

 

“As Captain and First Officer of the Crew of five who worked to serve our Customers aboard Flight #1380 yesterday, we all feel we were simply doing our jobs. Our Hearts are heavy. On behalf of the entire Crew, we appreciate the outpouring of support from the public and our Coworkers as we all reflect on one family’s profound loss. We joined our Company today in focused work and interviews with investigators. We are not conducting media interviews and we ask that the public and the media respect our focus.” – Southwest Captain Tammie Jo Shults and Southwest Airlines First Officer Darren Ellisor

 

Tuesday, April 17 3:55 PM

 

Southwest Airlines confirms an accident involving Southwest Airlines Flight #1380. The flight made an emergency diversion to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) earlier today after the Crew reported issues with the number one engine which resulted in damage to the fuselage.

 

We are deeply saddened to confirm that there is one fatality resulting from this accident. The entire Southwest Airlines Family is devastated and extends its deepest, heartfelt sympathy to the Customers, Employees, Family Members, and loved ones affected by this tragic event. We have activated our Emergency Response Team and are deploying every resource to support those affected by this tragedy. For a message from Gary Kelly, Southwest Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, please click here.

 

The aircraft involved today was a Boeing 737-700 (N772SW) and was enroute from New York LaGuardia (LGA) to Dallas Love Field (DAL). In total, the flight had 144 Customers and five Southwest Crew Members onboard.  We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the Southwest Pilots and Flight Attendants who acted professionally and swiftly to take care of our Customers during the emergency diversion and landing.

 

Finally, Southwest Airlines officials are in direct contact with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to support an immediate, coordinated response to this accident. Southwest is in the process of gathering additional information regarding Flight #1380 and will fully cooperate in an investigative process.

 

Please join the Southwest Family in keeping all of those affected by today’s tragedy in your thoughts.

 

 

Tuesday, April 17 12:05 PM 

 

We are aware that Southwest Flight #1380 from New York La Guardia (LGA) to Dallas Love Field (DAL) has diverted to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). We are in the process of transporting Customers and Crew into the terminal. The aircraft, a Boeing 737-700, has 143 Customers and five Crew Members onboard. We are in the process of gathering more information. Safety is always our top priority at Southwest Airlines, and we are working diligently to support our Customers and Crews at this time.

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