Air India has concluded the examination of fuel control switches on Boeing 787 aircraft without detecting any issues, as reported by Indian broadcaster NDTV. The investigation, detailed by an official statement, confirmed the absence of anomalies.
Both Boeing and Air India, when approached for comments by Reuters, did not immediately respond to the inquiries. The accuracy of the NDTV news has not been confirmed by Reuters till now, awaiting their verification.
In response to the severe investigation surrounding the fuel switch locks post the recent Air India fatal crash that claimed 260 lives, India mandated domestic airlines to inspect the fuel switches in various Boeing plane models. This directive mirrored South Korea’s call for a similar action a day later, showing the heightened global focus on these crucial components.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in India had previously issued the order to look into the issue of fuel switch locks across distinct Boeing models, encompassing the 787s and 737s. Following the initiative taken by multiple domestic and international airlines to conduct their assessments, this official directive gained prominence.
A preliminary report published recently concerning the tragic Air India plane crash outlined that the fuel switches had almost simultaneously transitioned from the run position to cutoff shortly after the plane took off. The Boeing Dreamliner, on its route to London from Ahmedabad, faced a sudden loss of thrust post-takeoff, leading to a rapid descent, as brought to light by the report on the deadliest aviation disaster in a decade.
