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.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz slowed to a near standstill over the weekend, with five commodity vessels transiting Saturday and none on Sun...
Central Asia has become a major focus for Eurasian transport investment, with $71.7 billion committed to 114 projects, according to the Eurasian De...
The European Union is preparing what foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has described as its most far-reaching sanctions package against Russia since...
At least 11 people were killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon on Saturday, among the deadliest since a June ceasefire. Meanwhile, Qatar denied holding Iranian pilots. It said it had found the remains of one pilot after an airspace violation and had contacted Iran to coordinate a handover.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz slowed to a near standstill over the weekend, with five commodity vessels transiting Saturday and none on Sunday. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Washington must meet Tehran's conditions for shipping to resume.
A wildfire in Croatia driven by strong winds descended on the tourist town of Omis overnight, engulfing houses, forcing about 1,000 people to evacuate to safety and injuring dozens, fire brigade and health officials said on Friday.
U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to make the Strait of Hormuz part of U.S. territory have been mocked by Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, who said the sea passage "cannot be seized by tweet."
Residents of villages in eastern Indonesia hit by a deadly earthquake that killed at least 54 people were awaiting aid on Monday as rescuers prepared to comb through collapsed buildings in search of people trapped beneath the rubble.
Central Asia has become a major focus for Eurasian transport investment, with $71.7 billion committed to 114 projects, according to the Eurasian Development Bank’s 2026 Transport Observatory.
The European Union is preparing what foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has described as its most far-reaching sanctions package against Russia since the war in Ukraine began.
Weeks after thousands of students protested in New Delhi over alleged failures in India’s examination system, the so-called Cockroach movement is taking its campaign to the grassroots, launching audits of state-run schools.
UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany visited Ukraine for the first time since taking office, meeting Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha in Kyiv on 15 August to discuss protecting the country’s cultural heritage amid continued Russian attacks.
Residents of villages in eastern Indonesia hit by a deadly earthquake that killed at least 54 people were awaiting aid on Monday as rescuers prepared to comb through collapsed buildings in search of people trapped beneath the rubble.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment