WASHINGTON, D.C. — Southwest Airlines could face a multi-million dollar penalty for allegedly operating commercial flights with incorrect weight and balance information.
The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed a $3.92 million civil penalty, saying that between May and August of 2018, Southwest operated 44 aircraft on a total of 21,505 flights with incorrect data. That includes incorrect empty weights and center of gravity data. That information and other data determine how many passengers -- and how much fuel -- can be carried safely, and where cargo has to be stored.
The FAA says Southwest's operation of those flights went against FAA-issued operations specifications.
Southwest has 30 days after it receives the FAA's enforcement letter to respond to the agency.
