Indian Regulator Orders Urgent Boeing Fuel Switch Checks After Air India 171 Crash Report
Indian Regulator Orders Urgent Boeing Fuel Switch Checks After Air India 171 Crash Report
India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has issued a directive for all airlines operating in the country to urgently examine fuel switches on their Boeing aircraft. This critical order follows the release of a preliminary report into the Air India Flight 171 crash in June, which indicated that both engines were starved of fuel moments after takeoff, resulting in the tragic loss of 260 lives.
The DGCA’s mandate comes as several domestic and international airlines have already initiated their own inspections of the locking mechanisms associated with these switches. Concurrently, South Korea is also preparing to instruct its airlines operating Boeing jets to conduct similar examinations, highlighting growing international concern.
The preliminary report, released last Saturday, has intensified the focus on the cockpit fuel switches as investigators work to determine the cause. While online speculation has emerged concerning potential pilot error, sabotage, or faulty switch locks, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson has cautioned against drawing premature conclusions. In a recent memo to staff, Wilson stressed that the investigation is in its early stages and has not yet identified a definitive cause or made any recommendations against Boeing.
The report also referenced a 2018 US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) bulletin that advised checking fuel switch locking features on various Boeing aircraft, including the 787, after instances of disengaged locking features on some 737 models were reported. However, that advisory was not considered an unsafe condition requiring mandated inspections.
Disclaimer: This content is aggregated from public sources online. Please verify information independently. If you believe your rights have been infringed, contact us for removal.