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Aircraft accidents

Air India Completes Precautionary Inspections of Boeing Aircraft Fuel Switches, Finds No Issues

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Air India has completed precautionary inspections of the Fuel Control Switch (FCS) locking mechanisms across its Boeing 787 and Boeing 737 aircraft, with no issues detected, the airline announced on Tuesday. The inspections followed a directive from the aviation regulator earlier this month, which mandated checks of fuel control switch systems in Boeing aircraft across India. The move came after the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released a preliminary report on the June 12 crash of Air India's Boeing 787-8, operating as flight AI 171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick.

Key Takeaways:

  • Air India completed precautionary inspections of the Fuel Control Switch (FCS) locking mechanisms on its Boeing 787 and Boeing 737 aircraft, with no issues detected.
  • The inspections began on July 12 and were concluded within the timeframe specified by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
  • The DGCA's inspection directive was in response to a 2018 Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which warned about the potential disengagement of the fuel control switch locking system mid-flight.
  • The safety of passengers and crew members remains the top priority for Air India, and the airline has committed to maintaining a high level of operational safety.
  • The AAIB's preliminary report on the June 12 crash of Air India's Boeing 787-8 highlighted that one of the key factors behind the fatal accident was the inadvertent shutdown of both fuel control switches within a second of take-off.
  • The investigation into the crash is ongoing, and the AAIB has not yet released a final report.

Statistics:

  • 260 people were killed in the crash of Air India's Boeing 787-8 on June 12.
  • 241 passengers were on board Flight AI 171 when it crashed.
  • 241 passengers died in the crash.
  • 19 people survived the crash, with one passenger surviving and 18 others suffering minor injuries.
  • The aircraft crashed shortly after take-off into a medical hostel complex.
  • The accident was declared a fatal one by the AAIB.

Sources:

  • Air India's official statement, dated July 14, 2025.
  • Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) directives, dated July 14, 2025.
  • Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) preliminary report, dated July 1, 2025.
  • US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB), dated July 17, 2018.
  • Contify.com news article, dated July 14, 2025.

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