India orders checks on Boeing fuel switches after deadly Air India crash

India orders checks on Boeing fuel switches after deadly Air India crash

NEW DELHI, July 15 — India has directed its airlines to inspect fuel control switches on multiple Boeing aircraft models following last month’s Air India crash that claimed 260 lives.‍

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NEW DELHI, July 15 — India has directed its airlines to inspect fuel control switches on multiple Boeing aircraft models following last month’s Air India crash that claimed 260 lives.

According to a preliminary report released Saturday by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, the fuel switches in question moved from the “run” to “cutoff” position shortly after takeoff. The report, while not assigning blame, mentioned that one pilot questioned the other about shutting off the fuel supply, to which the second pilot reportedly responded that he had not.

On Monday, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) instructed airlines to examine the locking mechanisms on the fuel switches of Boeing 787s, 737s, and other models.

This move follows Boeing’s assurance to operators that the switches were safe, and aligns with a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) issued by the US Federal Aviation Administration, recommending inspections to prevent unintentional movement.

Several domestic and international airlines have already initiated their own inspections.

“It has come to DGCA’s attention that many operators — both international and domestic — have begun inspecting their fleets in accordance with the SAIB,” the aviation regulator said in a statement.

The DGCA has set a deadline of July 21 for all affected operators to complete these inspections.

The fatal crash involved a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that was flying from Ahmedabad in western India to London. The incident killed 241 of the 242 people onboard, as well as 19 individuals on the ground.

In an internal memo issued Monday, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson stressed that the investigation remains ongoing and cautioned against drawing any premature conclusions. — AFP

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, en route from Ahmedabad in western India to London, crashed, resulting in the deaths of 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 individuals on the ground. — AFP pic

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