The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has affirmed the safety of fuel control switches in Boeing airplanes amid scrutiny following the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171, which resulted in 260 fatalities in June. This assurance comes in the wake of a preliminary report that raised questions about the switches’ role in the disaster, which occurred shortly after the aircraft took off from Ahmedabad Airport.
The report indicated that the fuel supply to the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner’s engines was abruptly severed, a critical factor that impeded the aircraft's thrust. The Accident Investigation Branch of India (AAIB) noted that the switches controlling the flow of fuel were inexplicably shifted from "run" to "cut-off," leading to the loss of power.
Further details revealed that the FAA had previously suggested that operators of Boeing aircraft should inspect the locking mechanism of these fuel cut-off switches in a 2018 advisory. Though not mandatory, this measure aimed to prevent unintentional switching. However, the AAIB reported that Air India had not conducted these inspections as advised.
Despite these findings, the FAA emphasized that it does not perceive the switches as posing an unsafe condition that would necessitate an Airworthiness Directive across any Boeing models, including those involved in the investigation. The FAA further expressed its intent to keep foreign aviation authorities informed regarding ongoing developments surrounding the case.
The AAIB, which analyzed cockpit voice recordings, reported an intriguing exchange between the pilots moments before the crash. One pilot questioned why the fuel had been cut off, to which the other replied he had not done so. The investigation found that the switches shifted position just after taking off, but did not clarify how this occurred.
Air India Flight 171 was en route to Gatwick Airport in London when it tragically collided with a medical college shortly after take-off, resulting in a devastating loss of life, including one survivor. Investigators are expected to release a comprehensive report detailing their findings within the next 12 months.
