Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Jul 14: In response to troubling findings from the recent Air India Dreamliner crash that claimed 260 lives in Ahmedabad, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has directed all Indian airlines operating Boeing aircraft to inspect the locking mechanism of their engine fuel control switches.

The preliminary investigation by the Air Accidents Investigation Bureau (AAIB) revealed that the aircraft’s engines shut down just seconds after take-off due to an unexpected fuel cutoff. The report raised alarms over a possible malfunction in the switches, which moved from ‘Run’ to ‘Cutoff’ moments after liftoff.

Cockpit recordings further deepened the mystery. One pilot is heard asking, “Why did you cut off?” with the other responding, “I didn’t.”

The investigation also cited a 2018 FAA safety bulletin warning of potential faults in fuel control switches—manufactured by Honeywell—that are used in several Boeing aircraft, including the Dreamliner and 737 models. The FAA had previously advised airlines to inspect these switches, but the advisory was not mandatory.

Air India acknowledged it had not conducted those checks, citing their non-compulsory nature. In contrast, airlines like Emirates have begun conducting precautionary inspections of their Boeing fleets following the crash.

Meanwhile, the US Federal Aviation Administration has reassured global aviation authorities that the current design of Boeing’s fuel control switches remains safe and does not warrant an airworthiness directive at this time.

The DGCA’s proactive step signals heightened scrutiny and an effort to prevent future tragedies linked to overlooked advisories in aircraft maintenance.