DALLAS — The federal government is suing Southwest Airlines Co. after failing to reach a settlement with the carrier over charges that repairs to dozens of planes didn’t meet safety standards.
The Justice Department sued Southwest on Monday in federal district court in Washington state. The lawsuit seeks to enforce $12 million in civil penalties that the Federal Aviation Administration announced in July.
The government says that starting in 2006 Southwest hired a contractor to make extensive repairs on 44 planes to prevent the aluminum skin from cracking. The FAA says the contractor failed to follow proper procedures.
Southwest says it disputes the FAA’s charges.
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