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.
India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Monday directed all domestic airlines to inspect the fuel switch locking mechanism in their Boeing aircraft by 21 July, in line with guidance from U.S. regulators.
The move follows a preliminary report by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) into the 12 June crash of a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operated by Air India. The report found that both engines lost power after confusion in the cockpit over the position of the engine fuel switches, resulting in one of the deadliest aviation disasters in India in decades.
The DGCA referenced a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) issued by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration in December 2018, which highlighted concerns over the potential disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature.
Fuel control switches are critical components that manage the flow of fuel to an aircraft’s engines. The AAIB report did not identify any mechanical or engine failure, nor did it recommend immediate action against Boeing or the aircraft model.
India’s major carriers, including Air India, Air India Express, Akasa Air, and SpiceJet, operate Boeing 787 and 737 jets and are expected to comply with the directive.
Air India CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson confirmed that all maintenance checks had been completed as required and said the AAIB report found no fault with the aircraft or its engines.
Meanwhile, the Airline Pilots' Association of India (ALPA-India) has demanded greater transparency in the investigation. In a statement, the association objected to what it called a narrative presuming pilot error.
“We feel that the investigation is being driven in a direction presuming the guilt of pilots, and we strongly object to this line of thought,” said ALPA-India president Sam Thomas.
The London-bound flight crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, killing 241 of the 242 people on board.
As investigations continue, the DGCA's latest directive seeks to ensure that similar fuel switch confusion does not jeopardise future flights.
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