In a decisive response to the horrific June crash of Air India Flight 171, which resulted in the loss of 260 lives, India's aviation regulatory body, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has issued an order requiring all domestic airlines to conduct inspections of fuel control switches on Boeing aircraft. This directive follows independent checks initiated by airlines and comes amid ongoing concerns stemming from the preliminary investigation's findings regarding the malfunctioning of these critical components during takeoff.
India Enforces Urgent Checks on Boeing Fuel Controls Following Air India Tragedy
India Enforces Urgent Checks on Boeing Fuel Controls Following Air India Tragedy
The DGCA mandates inspections to ensure safety after June's devastating crash that claimed 260 lives.
Air India's tragic incident, involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London, marks one of the decade's most significant aviation disasters. The DGCA has emphasized that inspections must be completed by July 21 to ensure the airworthiness of Boeing jets operating in India. The checks align with a 2018 advisory from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which suggested, though did not mandate, inspections of the switches due to potential hazards posed by their locking mechanisms being inadequately secured during operations.
While the FAA has stated that the fuel switches are safe, the Indian regulation follows the shocking revelation from the preliminary report that control switches had been inadvertently moved to a 'cut-off' position, thus jeopardizing engine thrust. Voice recordings from the cockpit also indicate confusion among pilots regarding the switch's status.
In light of the investigation, the Indian Commercial Pilots' Association has come to the defense of the flight crew, asserting their professionalism under extreme circumstances, while reiterating that the report aims solely to shed light on the incident without assigning blame. Furthermore, reports indicate that South Korea has begun preparations to mandate similar inspections for its fleet of Boeing aircraft in the wake of this tragedy.
As the aviation community collectively grapples with the implications of this tragic event, regulators and airline executives continue to take proactive measures to avert future catastrophes. The DGCA's immediate action is a testament to their commitment to passenger safety in a time of urgent scrutiny.
While the FAA has stated that the fuel switches are safe, the Indian regulation follows the shocking revelation from the preliminary report that control switches had been inadvertently moved to a 'cut-off' position, thus jeopardizing engine thrust. Voice recordings from the cockpit also indicate confusion among pilots regarding the switch's status.
In light of the investigation, the Indian Commercial Pilots' Association has come to the defense of the flight crew, asserting their professionalism under extreme circumstances, while reiterating that the report aims solely to shed light on the incident without assigning blame. Furthermore, reports indicate that South Korea has begun preparations to mandate similar inspections for its fleet of Boeing aircraft in the wake of this tragedy.
As the aviation community collectively grapples with the implications of this tragic event, regulators and airline executives continue to take proactive measures to avert future catastrophes. The DGCA's immediate action is a testament to their commitment to passenger safety in a time of urgent scrutiny.
