The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has raised safety concerns about Southwest Airlines following a labor dispute with its mechanics union, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, which has been negotiating a contract with the airline since 2012, is involved in an escalating conflict with Southwest.
A lawsuit filed by Southwest against the union alleges an illegal campaign to disrupt operations during prolonged negotiations. The FAA’s top safety official, Ali Bahrami, expressed concerns about the airline’s safety management system in a letter to Southwest, citing the ongoing tension between the carrier and its mechanics workforce.
The union represents approximately 2,400 Southwest mechanics. A 2018 image showed a Southwest Boeing 737-700 at LAX airport, highlighting the airline’s operations during the dispute. Southwest, the union, and the FAA have not yet commented on the matter, according to Reuters.
