In brief
In the wake of June's catastrophic Air India Flight 171 incident, which was attributed to fuel flow disruption just after take-off and marked one of the deadliest aviation events in recent years, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in India has mandated airlines to conduct inspections of fuel control switches on Boeing jets. This order comes as part of a series of responses to a preliminary investigation revealing serious concerns over the switches’ functionality. Airlines must complete the checks by July 21 to ensure operational safety.
The DGCA's recent order is a direct response to both the preliminary findings of the Air India crash and similar prior guidelines from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which had urged operators to check the locking features of these critical switches. Although the FAA maintains that the fuel switches are safe, they had previously recommended voluntary inspections due to reports of safety issues. The crash report suggests the switches were unintentionally moved to a "cut-off" position, severely affecting the aircraft's thrust.Amidst these developments, the Indian Commercial Pilots' Association has come to the defense of the flight crew, asserting they acted according to their training during challenging circumstances. Investigations continue as stakeholders, including airlines worldwide, assess the necessary safety protocols in light of the crash findings. Meanwhile, South Korea is also preparing to implement similar checks for its Boeing-operating airlines.
