Air India plane crash: ‘Boeing’s fuel control switches are safe to use,’ FAA says
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Air India plane crash: ‘Boeing’s fuel control switches are safe to use,’ FAA says
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Following the Air India Flight 171 crash on June 12, 2025, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Boeing have privately affirmed the safety of fuel cutoff switch locks on Boeing aircraft. This comes amidst an ongoing investigation into the crash, which a preliminary report indicated wasRead more
Following the Air India Flight 171 crash on June 12, 2025, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Boeing have privately affirmed the safety of fuel cutoff switch locks on Boeing aircraft. This comes amidst an ongoing investigation into the crash, which a preliminary report indicated was caused by both engine fuel switches flipping to “cutoff” shortly after takeoff.
While India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) preliminary report referenced a 2018 FAA advisory about potential disengagement of the fuel control switch locking mechanism, the FAA has stated that it does not consider this issue an “unsafe condition” requiring an airworthiness directive. Boeing has also reiterated the FAA’s stance in messages to airlines, and has not recommended any additional action in response to the incident.
Despite the FAA’s position, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered airlines operating Boeing 787 Dreamliners and select Boeing 737 variants to inspect fuel control switches. Air India has since completed these precautionary inspections on all its Boeing 787 and 737 aircraft, including those of Air India Express, and reported finding no issues with the locking mechanisms.
The investigation into the Air India Flight 171 crash is ongoing, with the AAIB’s preliminary report outlining initial findings but not assigning blame. Cockpit voice recordings reportedly captured a moment of confusion between the pilots, with one asking the other why the fuel was cut off, and the other denying having done so. This has led to speculation about pilot error, though pilot associations and the NTSB have cautioned against premature conclusions, emphasizing that full investigations take time to determine root causes.
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