Southwest Airlines faces FAA audit over string of near-miss incidents

The Federal Aviation Administration said Tuesday it was placing Southwest Airlines under a heightened safety review after a string of recent near-miss safety incidents involving the low-cost carrier.

In a statement, the agency said it was increasing oversight of Southwest "to ensure it is complying with federal safety regulations."

“Safety will drive the timeline,” the agency said.

The new development comes amid ongoing jitters about the state of U.S. aviation first sparked in January, when a door panel on a Boeing-manufactured aircraft blew out mid-air. That incident prompted the Justice Department to open a criminal investigation of Boeing, and led to the ouster of its leadership. A planned rollout of Boeing's latest-generation 737 Max line was also suspended.