After 260 Deaths, Boeing Fuel Switch Under Probe; Air India Submits Safety Report
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu)- Air India on Tuesday said it has completed a precautionary inspection of the locking system of the fuel control switch (FCS) of all Boeing 787 and Boeing 737 aircraft in its fleet and found no faults in them. The airline said the inspection was initiated in line with safety guidelines issued by India's aviation regulator DGCA mid-this month.
"Air India has completed precautionary checks of the locking system of the fuel control switch (FCS) of all Boeing 787 and Boeing 737 aircraft in its fleet," the airline said in a statement. The inspection was carried out after the Air India Boeing Dreamliner plane crash in Ahmedabad last month, which claimed 260 lives. A preliminary report by the Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) revealed that the aircraft's engines had shut down seconds after takeoff due to a loss of fuel supply.
This was due to the sudden shift of the fuel switch from 'run' to 'cutoff'. This again raised concerns about the functioning of the engine fuel cut-off switch. After the fatal accident in Ahmedabad and the DGCA's direction issued on July 14, Air India and its subsidiary budget airline Air India Express had immediately initiated voluntary inspections. These inspections began on July 12 and were completed within the time frame set by the regulator. The airline further said, "Air India had started voluntary inspections on July 12 and completed them within the time frame set by the DGCA. The regulator has been informed about this." The company said that the Boeing 737 aircraft which were also inspected are part of the Air India Express fleet.
Now with the inspection completed, both Air India and Air India Express have informed the DGCA and have fully complied with the safety instructions. The airline further said in the statement, "Air India is committed to the safety of passengers and crew members." Along with Air India, many major airlines globally such as Emirates etc. are also conducting similar checks on their Boeing aircraft as a precautionary measure. The US regulator has assured global aviation authorities that the design of the fuel control switch remains safe.