SkyWest Flights Grounded at FAA's Request Amid Safety Concerns

SkyWest Airlines has grounded all its flights at the request of the US FAA. The airline operates flights under code-share agreements with United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and Alaska Airlines. SkyWest's flights are operated with a fleet of approximately 500 aircraft and offer scheduled passenger service to destinations in the US, Canada, and Mexico.

SkyWest Airlines has temporarily grounded all its flights following a series of incidents involving severe turbulence and a pressurization issue on one of its flights. The decision comes at the request of the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which is currently investigating the incident.

On Thursday, August 28, SkyWest Airlines flight 5971, operating as United Express from Aspen (ASE) to Houston (IAH), encountered severe turbulence and a pressurization issue, leading to a diversion to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS). Two passengers were injured, with one requiring immediate medical attention. The flight landed safely, and medical personnel were on hand to assist the injured passengers [1].

The FAA has since released a statement confirming the incident and the ongoing investigation. SkyWest Airlines operates a fleet of approximately 500 aircraft, offering scheduled passenger service to destinations in the US, Canada, and Mexico under code-share agreements with major carriers such as United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and Alaska Airlines [2].

The grounding of SkyWest's flights follows a period of increased scrutiny in the aviation industry, with several airlines reporting incidents of severe turbulence and other in-flight emergencies. The decision to ground all flights is a precautionary measure aimed at ensuring the safety of passengers and crew.

SkyWest's stock price has seen fluctuations in recent hours, with the company's shares rising 1.33% in after-hours trading following Delta Air Lines' announcement of new nonstop service to Denver, which will operate twice daily through Delta Connection partner SkyWest [2]. Despite the grounding, the company has maintained that its priority is the safety and well-being of all onboard passengers.

The FAA's investigation into the incident is expected to provide more clarity on the cause of the turbulence and the pressurization issue. In the meantime, SkyWest Airlines has stated that it is working with its partner airlines to assist customers affected by the grounding.

References:
[1] https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/injuries-skywest-flight-aspen-colorado-turbulence-diverted-austin-texas/
[2] https://www.ainvest.com/news/skywest-shares-rise-1-33-hours-delta-air-lines-announces-nonstop-service-denver-2508/