Aviation Regulator Orders Mandatory Checks on Boeing Jets' Fuel Switches
India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered all airlines to inspect the fuel control switch locking mechanisms on their Boeing 787 and 737 aircraft by July 21. The directive follows a preliminary report on last month's fatal Air India crash, which found the fuel switches were cut off just after takeoff. The issue was flagged in a non-mandatory US FAA bulletin in 2018. The new order makes the checks compulsory, impacting over 150 aircraft in India.
Unpacked:
The Air India crash was caused by the engines losing thrust after the fuel cutoff switches were deliberately turned off just seconds after takeoff. Investigators are focusing on whether this was a deliberate act, but it is still unclear who turned off the switches and why. The engines failed to restart, leading to the fatal crash.
The crash killed all but one of the 242 people on board and 19 on the ground, with at least 60 injured on the ground. The sole survivor was a British citizen, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who was able to escape through an opening created by the emergency exit after the aircraft section where he was seated detached.
Although the US FAA issued a non-mandatory bulletin in 2018 about the fuel control switch issue, the inspections became compulsory only after the fatal Air India crash revealed the switches were cut off just after takeoff. The tragedy highlighted the risks, prompting India's DGCA to enforce mandatory checks for safety.
The DGCA directive requires inspections of over 150 Boeing 787 and 737 aircraft in India. Airlines may need to temporarily ground planes for checks, possibly leading to some flight delays or cancellations, but the measure is intended to improve passenger safety and prevent similar incidents in the future.