Air India has completed precautionary inspections of the locking mechanism of the Fuel Control Switch (FCS) on all Boeing 787 and Boeing 737 aircraft in its fleet, following a tragic crash last month and in accordance with safety directives issued by India’s aviation regulator. During the inspections, no issues were found with the locking mechanism
However, Air India began voluntary checks on July 12 and completed them within the time frame prescribed by the DGCA. This has been duly communicated to the regulator as well. The move follows a catastrophic incident on June 12, when an Air India Boeing 787-8, operating a flight from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, to London Gatwick, crashed into a building shortly after takeoff.
The horrific incident claimed 260 lives, including 19 people on the ground, as the aircraft plunged into a hostel. Of the 242 people onboard, only one passenger survived. Although the cause of the crash is still under investigation, the incident has triggered increased scrutiny of safety protocols throughout the aviation industry.
A preliminary report by the Air Accidents Investigation Bureau (AAIB) revealed that the aircraft’s engines had shut down just seconds after take-off due to fuel supply being cut off. This led to renewed concerns about the functioning of the engine fuel cut-off switches, which transitioned from ‘Run’ to ‘Cutoff’ unexpectedly.
Following the fatal Ahmedabad crash and the DGCA’s directive issued on July 14, Air India and its low-cost subsidiary Air India Express initiated immediate voluntary inspections. These began on July 12 and were completed within the time limit set by the regulator.
“In the inspections, no issues were found with the said locking mechanism. Air India had started voluntary inspections on 12 July and completed them within the prescribed time limit set by the DGCA. The same has been communicated to the regulator,” the airline added.
The Boeing 737 aircraft, which were also inspected, are part of the Air India Express fleet, the company said. With the inspections now complete, both Air India and Air India Express have informed the DGCA and fully complied with the safety directive.
“Air India remains committed to the safety of passengers and crew members,” the airline said in a statement. Meanwhile, several international carriers, including Emirates, are also conducting similar checks on their Boeing aircraft as a precaution, even though the FAA has not issued any new airworthiness directive. The American regulator has assured global aviation authorities that the fuel control switch design remains safe. (With IANS Inputs)
