Mechanics

Southwest says it will finish inspecting planes that were grounded this week

DALLAS – Southwest Airlines says it expects to meet a federal deadline this weekend and finish examining 128 planes that were grounded because of missed inspections.

Southwest Airlines Co. spokeswoman Brandy King said Friday that the ******* had inspected 115 of the planes and would check the others by the Sunday night deadline.

The Federal Aviation Administration is letting Southwest keep flying the planes while inspections of a backup hydraulic system for the rudders are done during overnight hours. An FAA spokesman says an ************* is continuing.

Southwest grounded the planes – about one-fifth of its fleet – on Tuesday and cancelled about 100 flights. King says the ******* doesn’t expect any more cancellations while it inspects the last 13 planes.






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