Inspector general: Congress needs to keep closer watch on FAA safety oversight of airlines

Investigator: FAA missing inspections at airlines

WASHINGTON — A government watchdog says the Federal Aviation Administration is missing safety inspections at major airlines.

The Transportation Department’s inspector general, Calvin Scovel, said Wednesday that the cozy relationship between FAA inspectors and Southwest Airlines that he warned Congress about last year extends to more offices within the agency and more airlines than previously known.

Scovel said in prepared testimony submitted to a Senate committee that FAA has missed inspections at seven other major airlines and that some inspections were nearly two years overdue.

Scovel recommended Congress keep a closer watch on the agency.