Boeing Fuel Switches Safe, Says FAA After Air India Crash
Following the preliminary report into the June 12 Air India Flight 171 crash, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Boeing have reassured airlines and global regulators that the design of the fuel control switch locks on Boeing aircraft—including the 787 involved—is not a safety hazard and does not require an airworthiness directive at this time. Key Points Both engines temporarily lost thrust after the fuel-control switches were moved from “RUN” to “CUTOFF”, triggering the crash investigation. The switches include a spring-lock mechanism and guard—FAA and Boeing affirm the design is safe and not defective. A 2018 FAA advisory instructed airlines to inspect these switches, but it was not mandatory, and Boeing has told airlines no additional action is required. Stakeholder Response Despite industry reassurance, India and South Korea have started their own inspections of fuel switch locks, referencing the AAIB’s […]
