SEOUL/NEW DELHI (Reuters) – South Korea is set to direct all airlines operating Boeing aircraft in the country to conduct checks on the fuel switches that have become the focus of an investigation following a tragic Air India crash that claimed the lives of 260 individuals.
The scrutiny on fuel switch locks intensified following a 2018 advisory issued by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which was highlighted in a preliminary report on the recent Air India Boeing 787-8 jet crash.
A spokesperson for the South Korean transport ministry mentioned that the checks align with the 2018 advisory by the FAA, although no specific timeline for implementation was provided.
When approached for comments, Boeing referred Reuters to the FAA, which was not immediately available to respond outside of regular working hours.
In the Air India crash, the fuel switches abruptly switched from the run position to cutoff shortly after takeoff. However, the preliminary report did not explain how this switch occurred mid-flight.
Over the weekend, the Air India Group initiated inspections on the fuel switch locking mechanism in its Boeing 787 and 737 fleets. According to a source familiar with the matter, no issues have been identified thus far. Nearly all of the 737s and approximately half of the 787s have undergone inspections, with the remainder expected to be completed within the next day or two, the source disclosed under anonymity.
Japan’s JAL released a statement emphasizing its unwavering commitment to safety, stating, ‘We are closely monitoring the investigation into the incident and will carry out any necessary checks based on the findings.’
The FAA’s 2018 advisory recommended, although not mandated, that operators of certain Boeing models, including the 787, examine the locking mechanism of the fuel cutoff switches to prevent accidental movement.
Reports indicated that Boeing and the FAA privately informed airlines and regulators that the fuel switch locks on Boeing planes were secure and that additional checks were deemed unnecessary.
Despite the FAA’s 2018 advisory not being compulsory, the Air India preliminary report revealed that the airline had omitted the suggested inspections. Maintenance records showed that the throttle control module, encompassing the fuel switches, had been replaced in 2019 and 2023 on the aircraft involved in the crash.
According to the source familiar with the matter, the module replacement in 2019 and 2023 was part of routine maintenance after 24,000 flight hours and extended beyond the crashed aircraft.
Following the release of the preliminary report, airline CEO Campbell Wilson circulated an internal memo cautioning against premature conclusions, noting that the crash investigation was still ongoing.
