Air India Completes Fuel Switch Inspections on All Boeing Aircraft, Finds No Issues

New Delhi: Air India announced on Tuesday that it has completed precautionary inspections of the fuel control switch (FCS) locking mechanisms on all Boeing 787 and Boeing 737 aircraft in its fleet, with no faults detected.

The inspections were carried out in accordance with safety guidelines issued earlier this month by India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

“Air India has completed precautionary inspections on the locking mechanism of the Fuel Control Switch (FCS) on all Boeing 787 and Boeing 737 aircraft in its fleet,” the airline said in an official statement.

These checks follow the recent crash of an Air India Boeing Dreamliner in Ahmedabad, which claimed 260 lives. A preliminary investigation by the Air Accidents Investigation Bureau (AAIB) found that the aircraft's engines shut down seconds after take-off due to a sudden cut in fuel supply.

This raised concerns about the functionality of the engine’s fuel control switches, which had reportedly shifted from ‘Run’ to ‘Cutoff’ unexpectedly.

In response, the DGCA issued a safety directive on July 14, prompting Air India and its low-cost arm, Air India Express, to begin voluntary inspections ahead of the deadline. The airline confirmed that these began on July 12 and were completed within the time frame mandated by the regulator.

“No issues were found with the locking mechanism. The findings have been shared with the DGCA,” the statement added.

Air India also noted that the Boeing 737 aircraft inspected are operated by Air India Express.

With the inspections now complete, both airlines have fully complied with the DGCA’s safety directive and informed the regulator accordingly.

“Air India remains firmly committed to the safety of its passengers and crew,” the airline reiterated.

Meanwhile, several global carriers, including Emirates, are also performing precautionary checks on their Boeing fleets, even though the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not issued any new airworthiness directive. The FAA has reassured aviation authorities worldwide that the FCS design is safe.

With inputs from IANS