Air India Crash Update: Air India on Tuesday confirmed that precautionary inspections of the Fuel Control Switch (FCS) locking mechanisms across its Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Boeing 737 fleets have been completed, with no faults detected. The airline conducted the checks following a tragic crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, which claimed 260 lives, including 19 on the ground.
The inspections were undertaken proactively, beginning July 12, ahead of a formal directive issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The checks were also extended to Air India Express aircraft. “No issues were found with the said locking mechanism during the inspections. Air India had initiated voluntary inspections… and completed them within the prescribed timeline. The same has been communicated to the regulator,” an Air India spokesperson stated, reaffirming the airline’s commitment to passenger and crew safety.
DGCA Ordered Checks After Fuel Cutoff Cited in Ahmedabad Crash
The DGCA directive came after a 15-page preliminary report into the Ahmedabad crash of AI171, which was bound for London Gatwick. The report identified that the fuel cutoff switches which control the fuel supply to the engines moved from ‘RUN’ to ‘CUT OFF’ within one second of takeoff, resulting in a complete loss of engine power. The plane crashed within 30 seconds of lifting off.
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Out of the 242 passengers onboard, only one survived. The exact reason for the fuel cutoff remains under investigation, with the report noting that it’s unclear whether the switches were turned off manually or due to a technical fault.
In response to these findings, the DGCA had ordered all operators using affected Boeing aircraft to complete inspections of the FCS locking mechanisms by July 21. Air India’s early compliance and all-clear report now provides some reassurance amid the ongoing investigation into the cause of the crash.
