Fuel switch locks are safe: US Aviation Body, Boeing say amid India’s probe into Air India flight crash
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New York: The US Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing claimed on Sunday that fuel switch locks on Boeing planes are safe, according to Reuters.
The statement comes amid India’s probe into the crash of air India flight Boeing 787-8 in Gujarat that killed 260 people.
The FAA's Continued Airworthiness Notification issued on July 11 came following a preliminary report by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) into the horrific Boeing 787-8 crash that took place last month.
The report raised questions over the switches' role in the crash of Air India’s Boeing 787-8.
‘Although the fuel control switch design, including the locking feature, is similar on various Boeing aeroplane models, the FAA does not consider this issue to be an unsafe condition that would warrant an Airworthiness Directive,’ the FAA notification to global civil aviation authorities reportedly said.
Citing sources, Reuters reported the FAA as saying that it did not have anything more to say beyond the notification.
The findings by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) pointed to a 2018 FAA advisory that had recommended, not mandatory though, to inspect the locking feature on fuel switches in Boeing models including the 787.
It is reported that Air India had not acted on this advisory as it was not mandatory, adding that all other relevant airworthiness directives had been complied with.
The reports, citing records, said that the aircraft’s throttle control module that houses the fuel switches were replaced in 2019 and 2023.
Meanwhile, cockpit voice recorder revealed a conversation between pilots aboard the ill-fated flight with one asking the other why the fuel was cutoff after take-off, which the pilot denied having done.
The report pointed out that both fuel switches were turned simultaneously from ‘run’ to ‘cutoff’; however, the report did not find out how it took place.
Pilots association ALPA India rejected the reports of pilot error alongside called for ‘fair, fact-based inquiry’.
Reuters quoted ALPA India President Sam Thomas as demanding: ‘The pilot's body must now be made part of the probe, at least as observers.’
