• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Air India Plane Crash Report:  Etihad Airways and Singapore Airlines have ordered immediate checks of fuel control switch lock mechanisms in their fleets of Boeing 787 Dreamliners as initial findings in the investigation into the catastrophic crash of Air India flight AI-171 last month hint at a possible malfunction of the fuel switch.

The inspection directive comes days after India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) issued its interim report on the June 12 fatal crash near Ahmedabad that claimed the lives of all 270 individuals on board. In its report, both engines of the Boeing 787-8 lost power a few seconds after take-off after their fuel control switches mysteriously moved from "RUN" to "CUTOFF", shutting off fuel supply in mid-air. Cockpit voice recorders picked up a conversation between the two pilots where one inquired, "Why did you shut down the fuel supply?" The other pilot answered he hadn't, raising questions about whether switches moved involuntarily.

Etihad, Singapore Airlines Issue Inspection Orders

Reports provided by The Economic Times indicate that Etihad Airways ordered an internal directive on July 13, instructing engineers to inspect the locking mechanisms on its Boeing 787s, particularly referring to aircraft registered as A6-BLI. Singapore Airlines has also started with the same checks, sources cited by The Economic Times revealed. The Boeing 787's fuel switches have a lift-and-lock design to avoid accidental shutdowns. A 2018 US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety bulletin had warned of potential failures in the system, though it was only a recommendation and not a requirement.

Even with the new inspections, Boeing and the FAA still assert that the fuel switch design isn't an airworthiness issue. A document provided to Reuters indicates the FAA made a Continued Airworthiness Notification on July 11 in which it stated no new Airworthiness Directive (AD) would be required for any Boeing model, including the 787. "Boeing's Multi-Operator Message parroted the FAA's stance, reassuring airlines that the current design is safe and compliant," sources added. Both Boeing and the FAA refused further comment.

ALSO READ: Fuel Switches Didn’t Fail? FAA Backs Boeing 787 Safety After Fatal Air India Plane Crash

Fuel Contamination Excluded

The AAIB's initial findings also dismissed fuel contamination as a possible cause, confirming that fuel samples analyzed by India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) were up to all standards. The throttle control module of the aircraft, which contains the fuel switches, had also been replaced in 2019 and 2023, the report added. India's pilots' association, ALPA India, has dismissed speculation of pilot fault and requested its members be made part of the probe as official observers. ALPA India president Sam Thomas emphasized a "fair, fact-based probe", a request backed by veteran US aviation safety professionals. “This is the first fatal hull loss of a Boeing 787 and one of India’s worst air disasters in decades,” aviation expert Captain John Cox said, backing calls for full transparency.

ALSO READ:  Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crash: How The US Made ‘Golden Chassis’ Decoded Air India Flight's Final Moments?

The AAIB confirmed that the two engines have been recovered for more detailed inspection, with additional fuel tests to be conducted in specialized laboratories. The agency is not releasing any immediate operational procedures for other Boeing 787 operators but has instructed continued caution as the investigation continues.