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Aviation inspectors were ordered on Tuesday to review maintenance records at all domestic airlines to ensure that carriers have complied with safety orders and other directives.

The unprecedented audit by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which is under pressure from Congress to tighten oversight, stems from alleged inspection lapses at Southwest Airlines  that led the agency to propose a record fine of $10.2 million on March 6.

March 17 (Reuters) - Southwest Airlines  is reconsidering some of its operating plans in the wake of maintenance lapses, including the pace of retiring older planes and outsourcing maintenance overseas, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.

Southwest is pursuing major structural upgrades to dozens of its oldest Boeing 737 jets in an effort partly aimed at reducing long-term maintenance expenses, according to the Journal.

Southwest Airlines Co  Chief Executive Gary Kelly apologized to customers and safety regulators for maintenance lapses which led to a government penalty, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.

"I am not satisfied we are as compliant" with maintenance requirements "or as safe as we could be," Kelly said in an interview with the newspaper.

"We will certainly be very cooperative in working with the (Federal Aviation Administration)," he said.

 Southwest Airlines Co grounded more than three dozen planes on Wednesday due to a new glitch in safety inspections, although it said normal operations would resume the following day after reinspection.

The groundings, which cut 4 percent of its scheduled flights, came after the Federal Aviation Administration last week proposed a record $10.2 million fine against the airline, charging it missed deadlines to inspect planes for structural flaws during 2006 and 2007.

Southwest Airlines Co  said on Wednesday that all aircraft reinspections will be completed by the end of the night, and it expects normal operations the following morning.

It said 28 of 38 aircraft reinspections had been completed so far, and that the rest would be reinspected by the end of the night.

Southwest said earlier that it had grounded more than three dozen planes, cutting 4 percent of its scheduled flights, due to another glitch in ensuring safety inspections are completed. (Reporting by Ritsuko Ando; editing by Carol Bishopric)

Yesterday, Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly said the airline is taking action on preliminary findings of its own internal investigation into allegations that it violated FAA regulations in March 2007. Kelly vowed to make any changes necessary to ensure that the airline is in full compliance with FAA Airworthiness Directives and all of its own maintenance programs, policies, and procedures.

NEW YORK, March 12 (Reuters) - Southwest Airlines Co  said on Wednesday that it has taken 41 planes out of service, but declined to comment on the reason.

Southwest said on Tuesday that it suspended three employees in response to U.S. government allegations that it knowingly allowed planes to fly that had not been properly inspected for potential structural flaws.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) last week proposed a record $10.2 million in connection with allegedly failing inspections.

The following is a statement by Gregory A. Feith:

A congressional investigation has found more potential safety problems at Southwest Airlines and possible lapses at other U.S. carriers are being reviewed, a senior lawmaker said on Friday.

Rep. James Oberstar, a Minnesota Democrat and chairman of the House of Representatives Transportation Committee told reporters his panel has received information from government airline safety inspectors who claim their reports about violations are routinely not acted upon by superiors at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly appeared on CNN's "This Morning" to address the penalty proposed by the FAA for what it calls "failed compliance" of certain FAA directives that Southwest rectified in April 2007. The directives involved one of many routine, redundant, and overlapping inspections on 46 of Southwest's more than 500 aircraft. Excerpts from Kelly's interview are below.

Gary Kelly: