Southwest won't pay FAA fine by deadline

updated 11:28 a.m. ET Aug. 27, 2008

DALLAS - Southwest Airlines said Tuesday it will not pay a record $10.2 million fine by Friday, the deadline set by the Federal Aviation Administration.

The FAA levied the fine against Dallas-based Southwest Airlines Co. in March because it said the airline continued to fly dozens of Boeing 737s that hadn't been inspected for cracks in their fuselages.

"Our hope continues to be that we will resolve the matter amicably with the FAA, however long that takes," Southwest spokesman Beth Harbin said in a story Tuesday on The Dallas Morning News' Web site. "We would hope that the FAA will continue to discuss the matter with us in good faith as we have been doing all along."

FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown told The Associated Press that the FAA is continuing talks with Southwest. She declined to comment further.

The FAA set the deadline in an Aug. 12 letter, warning that it would refer Southwest's case to the U.S. attorney's office if the fine is not paid.

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