Following a deadly crash involving an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, the airline has reported that all inspections of its aircraft's fuel control switches have yielded no issues.
Air India Reports No Issues with Boeing Fuel Switches After Crash Investigation
Air India Reports No Issues with Boeing Fuel Switches After Crash Investigation
Air India concludes inspections of its fleet, finding no faults in fuel switch mechanisms linked to the recent crash.
In June, a London-bound Air India flight tragically crashed in Ahmedabad, India, resulting in the loss of 260 lives, including those on the ground. The crash has prompted extensive investigations focusing on fuel control switches, which are instrumental in managing the supply of fuel to the engines. A preliminary report from India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau indicated that the switches transitioned from the "RUN" to "CUT OFF" positions just moments prior to the disaster, raising questions about whether these actions were intentional or accidental.
Safety experts have noted the improbability of the switches being moved without human intervention, as they are designed with locking mechanisms to prevent unintended adjustments. In light of the crash, Indian aviation regulators mandated that all airlines conduct thorough inspections of fuel switches on Boeing aircraft.
On Tuesday, Air India announced the completion of these precautionary inspections, stating that their evaluations of the locking mechanisms on fuel switches revealed no problems.
During the June 12 incident involving Air India Flight 171, the dual switches for both engines shifted to "CUTOFF," ceasing fuel flow and leading to a rapid loss of altitude. A recording from the cockpit captured a conversation between the pilots, where one queried the other about the cutoff, to which the pilot replied that he had not made such an action. Despite subsequent attempts to restore fuel supply, the aircraft could not recover in time to avert tragedy.
The investigation into the causes of the crash is expected to take a considerable amount of time, though the focus on fuel switch integrity remains critical to ensure future passenger safety.
Safety experts have noted the improbability of the switches being moved without human intervention, as they are designed with locking mechanisms to prevent unintended adjustments. In light of the crash, Indian aviation regulators mandated that all airlines conduct thorough inspections of fuel switches on Boeing aircraft.
On Tuesday, Air India announced the completion of these precautionary inspections, stating that their evaluations of the locking mechanisms on fuel switches revealed no problems.
During the June 12 incident involving Air India Flight 171, the dual switches for both engines shifted to "CUTOFF," ceasing fuel flow and leading to a rapid loss of altitude. A recording from the cockpit captured a conversation between the pilots, where one queried the other about the cutoff, to which the pilot replied that he had not made such an action. Despite subsequent attempts to restore fuel supply, the aircraft could not recover in time to avert tragedy.
The investigation into the causes of the crash is expected to take a considerable amount of time, though the focus on fuel switch integrity remains critical to ensure future passenger safety.
