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The Indian government on Wednesday said that no fault was found in the fuel control switch locking mechanism of an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner after a detailed inspection. The checks were carried out following concerns raised by pilots of a London-Bengaluru flight over a possible defect. The inspection comes amid renewed attention on Boeing 787 fuel control switches after the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad last year that killed 260 people.
Boeing Inspection Finds No Abnormality In Fuel Control Switch
In a reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State (MoS) for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had ordered detailed checks of the fuel control switch locking mechanism at the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) facility in Seattle.
According to the minister, the inspection included checking the structural strength of the fuel control switch detents and other components. The examination found no abnormality or defect in the switch. However, the inspection of the complete thrust control module at the Boeing facility in Seattle is still underway.
Checks Ordered After Air India Flight Raised Safety Concern
The inspection was conducted as part of continuous checks to ensure aircraft safety. The action was taken after pilots of an Air India Boeing 787 operating a London-Bengaluru flight reported a possible issue with the fuel control switch in February. The fuel control switches regulate the flow of jet fuel to the aircraft engines and have been under scrutiny following the investigation into the Air India Boeing 787 crash in Ahmedabad.
Govt Responds To Questions On Ahmedabad Crash
While responding to questions raised by Congress MP Jebi Mather, Mohol said the investigation into the Ahmedabad crash is ongoing and all possible aspects are being examined. He rejected suggestions that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) had delayed the release of its final report.
Final Crash Report To Be Released After Investigation
Mohol said major accident investigations cannot be completed within a fixed timeline, and there has been no delay in the probe. He added that the final report will be made public once the investigation is completed. The report will include all findings of the probe and will be published on the AAIB website.