In brief
India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has mandated inspections for fuel control switches in Boeing aircraft, following a tragic incident that led to the loss of 260 lives on Air India Flight 171 in June. The DGCA's directive aligns with earlier voluntary checks initiated by various airlines after a US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) report deemed the fuel switches safe. This decision underscores growing safety concerns highlighted by a preliminary investigation that indicated a pivotal failure in the fuel supply immediately after take-off.
In a bid to maintain the safety and airworthiness of planes, the DGCA has established a deadline for the inspections to be concluded by July 21. Airlines are urged to comply strictly with this timeline. The inspections are informed by a 2018 FAA advisory that recommended operators of Boeing models examine the locking feature on fuel cut-off switches, noting that their accidental movement could pose risks. Notably, Air India did not perform these checks, as they were not mandated by regulation at that time.The FAA reaffirmed the integrity of fuel control switches despite the heightened scrutiny, suggesting that their locking mechanisms may have been improperly disengaged but deeming the planes safe for operation. In an additional response to the tragic incident, the Indian Commercial Pilots' Association came to the defense of the Flight 171 crew, asserting that they fulfilled their duties under adverse conditions and should not face unwarranted criticism.The preliminary report from the India Aircraft Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) detailed that the switches controlling fuel flow to the engines were inadvertently shifted to the "cut-off" position. Voice recordings retrieved from the cockpit captured a moment of confusion when one pilot questioned why the fuel had been cut off, to which the other responded with uncertainty. Importantly, the report emphasizes that its focus is on investigating the events rather than assigning blame.As concerns ripple through the aviation community, South Korea has reportedly indicated plans to follow India’s lead, requiring a review of fuel switch systems on all Boeing-operated airlines in the country to ensure compliance with international safety standards.
