India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a directive requiring all airlines operating Boeing aircraft in the country to inspect the fuel control switches following a deadly incident involving Air India Flight 171. The crash, which occurred in June and resulted in the loss of 260 lives, has raised significant safety concerns regarding the aircraft's fuel systems.
The DGCA's instruction comes after both Indian and international airlines have begun conducting their own checks in response to the preliminary report that revealed a sudden fuel cut-off shortly after take-off. In a separate response, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that the fuel control switches are safe, despite the ongoing investigations.
In its latest order, the DGCA has set a strict deadline for these inspections to be completed by July 21, emphasizing the necessity of maintaining airworthiness and operational safety. This directive aligns with a 2018 FAA advisory, which had previously encouraged Boeing operators to assess the locking mechanism on fuel cut-off switches, though it was not initially mandated.
The preliminary investigation by the India Aircraft Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) highlighted that the switches controlling fuel flow were mistakenly switched to "cut-off," resulting in a loss of thrust. Voice recordings from the cockpit indicate confusion between the pilots about the switch's position, with one pilot questioning the other about the cut-off.
In light of the FAA's assessed safety of the fuel switches, the pilots have gained support from the Indian Commercial Pilots' Association, who stated the crew acted according to their training and should not be blamed for the incident.
As the investigation continues, other nations, including South Korea, are considering similar inspections, indicating a wider recognition of the need for safety in aviation practices.
