India Orders Airlines to Inspect Fuel Switches on Boeing Aircraft Following Crash Report

The Indian government has instructed airlines in the country to examine fuel switches on certain Boeing aircraft following a recent preliminary report regarding the Air India crash that occurred in June. The report indicated that the fuel supply was abruptly disconnected mere seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad, leading to the tragic incident involving a 787-8 Dreamliner that was en route to the UK, which resulted in the death of 19 individuals on the ground and left only one survivor among the 242 passengers onboard.

The Indian civil aviation regulatory authority issued this directive after noting that both domestic and international carriers had begun their own examinations of the locking mechanisms tied to the fuel switches. The directive is specifically directed towards Boeing's 787 Dreamliner and 737 aircraft models, as reported by The Economic Times.

According to the preliminary findings by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, the crash was attributed to the shutting off of fuel supply to the aircraft engines when cockpit switches were mistakenly adjusted to the 'cut off' position shortly after takeoff. Although the engines were restarted after the switches were activated again, the airplane continued to lose altitude, prompting the crew to issue a Mayday alert.

Investigators have ruled out several potential causes such as fuel quality, overloading, bird strikes, and dangerous cargo, noting that all systems appeared to be functioning normally at the time of takeoff. The current report does not suggest any immediate accountability for Boeing or General Electric, the engine manufacturer, although both companies, along with regulatory bodies from the US and the UK, are collaborating in the ongoing investigation.

Despite reports from Western media asserting the safety of Boeing's fuel switch locks, airlines in countries like Japan, South Korea, and Singapore are independently conducting precautionary checks, as are Etihad Airways and other international carriers.