Flown on Southwest Airlines recently, like in the last four years?
Purchased a Southwest ticket for a future flight?
Well here's news for you--you just had a class action lawsuit filed on your behalf today.
Southwest Airlines passengers: Unsafe planes? That won't fly.
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Three Illinois plaintiffs sued Southwest Airlines today for violating federal air-safety regulations. The plaintiffs allege that when the airline failed to repair defective rudders and inspect for fuselage cracks in accordance with federal law, it was "gambling with the lives of its passengers, crewmembers, and countless third parties."
In 2007, Southwest flew 46 uninspected planes on more than 61,000 flights. Six of the planes had cracked fuselages, according to the complaint.
But the plaintiffs' main allegation is that Southwest represented itself as being in compliance with federal air-safety regulations when in fact many of its planes were unsafe. The class action complaint asks for damages in an unspecified amount, on the grounds that passengers "paid for a service of a certain value, travel on safe and legal aircraft, and received instead a service of lesser value, travel on unsafe or illegal aircraft."
In 2007, Southwest flew 46 uninspected planes on more than 61,000 flights. Six of the planes had cracked fuselages, according to the complaint.
But the plaintiffs' main allegation is that Southwest represented itself as being in compliance with federal air-safety regulations when in fact many of its planes were unsafe. The class action complaint asks for damages in an unspecified amount, on the grounds that passengers "paid for a service of a certain value, travel on safe and legal aircraft, and received instead a service of lesser value, travel on unsafe or illegal aircraft."
The plaintiffs also point a finger at the Federal Aviation Administration, saying that Southwest's "repeated violations of federal law were facilitated by its cozy relationship with certain FAA field officials."
The FAA and Southwest reached a settlement in March, fining Southwest $7.5 million for its violations.
6 Comments
Megan Cottrell said:
Holy crap! It's so sad too because they're one of the few airlines that still gives you drinks and snacks. That's my priority when I fly. Well, except for a general expectation that the airline isn't gambling with my life, or that of the crew members and countless third parties. Slightly more important than honey roasted peanuts...
Clark Bender said:
These are really interesting, Marian. Keep up the good work!
Fernando Diaz said:
Southwest from Midway to Baltimore has been my lifeline since college. What those plaintiffs call fuselage cracks we die hards refer to as ventilation.
Would keep flying Southwest except they don't seem as cheap, err, affordable as they once were.
Very soon we'll get to take a peek at these lawsuits, I think ;)
Thanks for the report, Ace.
Jimmy Greenfield said:
Uh, I just bought tickets on Southwest a few days ago. Just saw the fine print and it read, "Fly at your own risk. Cracks in fuselage may be closer than they appear."
Anna Pulley said:
and here i thought you meant you'd literally be writing about bartending. dur.
interesting article - though i doubt my love of cheap airfare will trump the whole "safety" thing.
Terradea said:
At the risk of sounding naive ... doesn't there have to be some sort of injury before one can prevail in a lawsuit?
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