Uncertified mechanics in foreign countries routinely perform MROs (maintenance, repair and overhaul) of commercial jetliners at unsecured facilities, former Federal Aviation Administration inspector Rich Wyeroski told The Examiner. Besides the obvious security problems, they are also more prone to miss problems like tiny cracks in the fuselage that could turn into major safety hazards later – such as the three-foot long hole that forced the emergency landing of Southwest Airlines Flight 812 earlier this month. 

A similar incident on a Southwest flight headed to Baltimore happened in 2009.