The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Boeing have told airlines that the fuel switch locks on Boeing aircraft are safe, despite new scrutiny following a deadly crash in India.
The FAA’s notification, issued on 11 July, came after a preliminary report into last month’s Air India Boeing 787-8 crash that killed 260 people. The report raised questions about the aircraft’s engine fuel cutoff switches.
In its message to global aviation authorities, seen by Reuters, the FAA said it does not consider the design of the fuel control switches to pose an unsafe condition that would require further directives.
Boeing echoed the FAA’s stance in a communication to airlines, stating no action is currently recommended.
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) report referenced a 2018 FAA advisory suggesting, but not requiring, inspections of fuel switch locks on certain Boeing models, including the 787. Air India confirmed it did not perform these checks as they were not mandatory.
The report also confirmed that all other safety directives and bulletins were followed.
Meanwhile, ALPA India, representing Indian pilots, rejected any early presumption of pilot error. The group called for a fair, fact-based investigation and asked to be included as observers.
A letter from ALPA India highlighted possible equipment malfunction linked to the fuel control switch gates.
Cockpit recordings revealed that during the final moments of the flight, one pilot asked the other why he had cut off the fuel. The second pilot replied that he had not. The report noted that the fuel switches moved to cutoff almost simultaneously after takeoff but did not explain how.
Two U.S. safety experts supported ALPA India's observer request but said the report did not show bias against the pilots.
The investigation remains ongoing, as calls for a thorough and transparent process continue to grow.
A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck off the east coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on Saturday, but no tsunami alert was issued, according to the ...
Finance ministers from the Group of Seven discussed new sanctions on Russia and tariffs on countries buying its oil, as the U.S. urged allies to ramp ...
North Korea will unveil a new policy linking nuclear and conventional military development at its upcoming ruling party congress, Kim Jong Un announce...
The United Nations General Assembly on Friday overwhelmingly endorsed a declaration calling for “tangible, timebound, and irreversible steps” towa...
Japan has reached a record 99,763 centenarians as of September 1, with women accounting for roughly 88 percent, marking the 55th consecutive year the ...
Singapore plans to acquire four Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, a statement from the country's defence ministry said on Wednesday.
India’s aviation regulator has instructed all airlines to inspect fuel switch systems on Boeing aircraft following a deadly crash in Gujarat last month that killed 241 people.
Boeing said on Thursday it had secured a $2.8 billion U.S. contract to develop and produce two satellites with options for two more.
Indonesia is ready to pump $34 billion into U.S. energy and agriculture projects—plus a possible 75‑jet Garuda order—to head off steep tariffs.
AnewZ has learned that India has once again blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, while Pakistan’s recent decision to consider diplomatic relations with Armenia has been coordinated with Baku as part of Azerbaijan’s peace agenda.
A day of mourning has been declared in Portugal to pay respect to victims who lost their lives in the Lisbon Funicular crash which happened on Wednesday evening.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
Finance ministers from the Group of Seven discussed new sanctions on Russia and tariffs on countries buying its oil, as the U.S. urged allies to ramp up economic pressure.
The State Security Service (SSS) of Georgia has confirmed the arrest of two Ukrainian nationals following the discovery of explosive substance inside a truck at the Sarpi customs checkpoint.
The volume of water in the Northern Aral has reached 24.1 billion cubic metres, surpassing the 2025 target by a wide margin according to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, which announced that the sea is making a remarkable comeback, and doing so faster than anticipated.
Afghanistan and Kazakhstan have signed a new trade agreement worth $2 million, further expanding economic ties between the two countries.
Armenian Parliamentary Speaker Alen Simonyan highlighted Azerbaijan’s desire to prevent future threats, while stressing the importance for Armenia to unblock communications and participate in the Zangezur Corridor project.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment