Following a deadly Air India plane crash, the FAA maintains that Boeing fuel controls are safe while investigations continue.
Boeing Fuel Control Switches Cleared of Fault Amid Air India Crash Investigation
Boeing Fuel Control Switches Cleared of Fault Amid Air India Crash Investigation
US FAA Assures Safety of Boeing Fuel Switches After Air India Tragedy
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has declared the fuel control switches in Boeing aircraft to be safe, despite concerns raised by the recent tragic crash of Air India Flight 171, which resulted in the deaths of 260 people in June. The devastating incident, which involved a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, occurred shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport. Investigators indicated that the fuel to the aircraft's engines was unexpectedly cut off just after takeoff, raising alarms regarding the reliability of the fuel control switches.
The preliminary report from the India Aircraft Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) described that the switches had been moved from "run" to a "cut-off" position, thus compromising the aircraft's thrust. This incident marked one of the most significant aviation disasters in recent memory. The AAIB's findings emphasized a 2018 FAA advisory that recommended inspection of the locking mechanisms of fuel control switches to prevent accidental disengagement—an advisory that Air India reportedly did not act on.
Despite these issues, the FAA informed civil aviation authorities that they do not deem the switches unsafe enough to require an Airworthiness Directive for any Boeing models, including the 787. The FAA acknowledged that its 2018 advisory was a response to reports indicating that the switches might be installed with disengaged locking features but reiterated that the current evidence does not indicate an unsafe condition.
The investigation revealed that cockpit recordings indicated a tense moment between pilots, with one questioning why the fuel had been cut. The switches appeared to have flipped to "cut-off" nearly simultaneously after takeoff, although the report left unclear how this occurred.
Air India Flight 171, which was destined for London’s Gatwick airport, tragically crashed into a medical facility near the airport just one minute post-takeoff. Of the 260 fatalities, only one British national survived. A detailed report from investigators is anticipated within the next 12 months to further elucidate the causes behind this catastrophic event.
