FAA investigates Southwest over baggage weight reporting errors
The Federal Aviation Administration has been probing Southwest Airlines for discrepancies in the reporting of checked baggage weights on commercial flights.
According to a Wall Street Journal report the FAA has been investigating the airline over the past year and found ‘systemic and significant mistakes’ with employee calculations and luggage-loading practices.
According to federal officials, miscalculations were made by just a few pounds up to as much as 1,000 pounds in excess of the reported weight.
Discrepancies can lead to potential safety issues for pilots who have to compute the weight of the aircraft before take-off.
Heavier loads may mean a faster take-off speed on the runway or reduced cruising speeds in the air.
The agency has ordered the airline to adopt ‘a comprehensive solution to the methods and processes used’ but has yet not imposed a civil fine on Southwest.
A Southwest Airlines spokesperson told the WSJ it had cooperated fully with the investigation.
"Southwest believes the controls and procedures we implemented throughout 2018 have enhanced our weight and balance program and resolved the issues that we originally reported to the FAA," it told CNN Business.
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