April 25, 2018
Dear AMFA Members:
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating last week’s tragic incident on Southwest Airlines Flight #1380 and our Southwest Airlines (SWA) Accident Investigation Team (AIT) Representatives are actively participating in the investigation. During the course of an active investigation we will not speculate or comment about the incident. AMFA's goal in assisting the NTSB with this process is to utilize our expertise to help discover the exact cause of this tragic event and to identify solutions to prevent it from occurring in the future. We will continue to update you as we move forward through the process.
On April 20, 2018, the engine maker, CFM, issued a Service Bulletin and the FAA subsequently issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2018-09-51, which was sent to owners and operators of CFM International S.A. (CFM) Model CFM56-7B engines. A copy of the Emergency AD has been included for our members to read and understand.
AMFA would like to take this opportunity to recognize the professionalism and leadership displayed by one of our Philadelphia Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMTs), Domenic Bufalini, who was on duty when the aircraft diverted. He was called out to receive the aircraft with no knowledge of the tragedy that had occurred. Instead of wilt under the immense pressure upon arriving on the scene, Domenic rose to the occasion and dealt with the immediate aftermath of the critical situation as exemplary as one could contemplate. His professionalism did not go unnoticed, as the FAA and NTSB made positive comments in regards to Domenic’s handling of the event. Congratulations on a job well done!
Additionally, we would like to thank AMTs industry-wide who are diligently working to accomplish important inspections of their respective carrier’s fleet. Thank you to our members for uniting during this critical time, and to the SWAPA Pilots and TWU 556 Flight Attendants for their continued support.
On Behalf of the National Executive Council,
Scott King
National Safety and Standards Director