The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a mandatory directive requiring all Indian airline operators to inspect engine fuel control switches on specific Boeing aircraft by July 21, 2025. The move comes in response to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s (AAIB) preliminary report into the June 12 crash of Air India flight AI171 in Ahmedabad, which resulted in 260 fatalities.
The order covers Boeing 737 and 787 Dreamliner (787-8/9/10) aircraft registered in India. It highlights the risk of disengagement in the locking feature of the fuel control switches—an issue first flagged in a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB No. NM-18-33) issued by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in December 2018.
The DGCA has also directed airlines to comply with mandatory modifications based on airworthiness directives from the aircraft’s country of design or manufacture.
Engines Shut Down Seconds After Takeoff, Says AAIB Report
The AAIB’s 15-page preliminary report revealed that both engines on the ill-fated Boeing 787-8 shut down seconds after takeoff when their fuel cutoff switches transitioned from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” within one second of each other. The aircraft, which had reached a maximum speed of 180 knots indicated airspeed (IAS), lost thrust and was unable to recover, crashing into the BJ Medical College hostel building near the Ahmedabad airport.
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The crash killed 241 passengers and crew on board, along with 19 individuals on the ground.
The report also noted that Air India had replaced the Throttle Control Module (TCM)—which houses the fuel cutoff switches—twice, once in 2019 and again in 2023, in line with Boeing’s Maintenance Planning Document. However, these replacements were not linked to any known defect in the fuel switches.
The AAIB further stated that the aft Extended Airframe Flight Recorder (EAFR) sustained severe damage, limiting access through conventional methods. Wreckage has since been cleared, and engine components are being examined.
Although Boeing and the FAA maintain the system’s overall safety, Boeing has advised operators through a Multi-Operator Message that no immediate action is required. Air India had not conducted the 2018-recommended FAA inspection, as the advisory was non-binding.
