Boeing 787 Fuel Switch Design Under Scrutiny After India Crash, Officials Maintain Safety

Following a fatal Boeing 787 crash in India, both U.S. aviation regulators and Boeing have privately asserted that the fuel cutoff switch design on Boeing aircraft is safe and does not necessitate immediate corrective measures. This affirmation comes amidst heightened scrutiny of the aircraft's safety features.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a Continued Airworthiness Notification on July 11th. This notice clarified that the FAA does not believe the fuel control switch design presents an unsafe condition. This is despite the preliminary Indian investigation into the Air India crash, which resulted in 260 fatalities, citing the switch design.

The FAA's notice, viewed by Reuters, stated that while the fuel control switch design, including its locking mechanism, is similar across various Boeing airplane models, the FAA does not consider the issue to be unsafe enough to warrant an Airworthiness Directive. Boeing, in a separate message to airline operators, mirrored the FAA's position, stating that no action is currently being recommended.

The preliminary report from India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) highlighted that Air India had not conducted a 2018 FAA-recommended inspection of fuel cutoff switch locks. This inspection was not mandatory. The report also included cockpit voice data, revealing a conversation between pilots regarding the fuel cutoff.

Pilot union ALPA India has rejected early assumptions of pilot error and requested to be included as observers in the ongoing investigation. Two U.S. safety experts have also supported ALPA India's request, while also noting that the AAIB's report did not appear biased.