Air India Crash Spurs Scrutiny Of Boeing Fuel Switches

India’s aviation watchdog has issued directives for airlines to perform thorough inspections of fuel switches on Boeing aircraft after the devastating crash of an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner in June. The Air India Flight 171 tragedy, which claimed the lives of 260 people, has prompted intense scrutiny, following initial findings indicating that both engines were starved of fuel seconds after takeoff.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) took immediate steps after the preliminary investigation suggested possible issues with the fuel switches. Domestic and international airlines have begun their own inspections, while South Korea has signalled similar measures for operators of Boeing aircraft in its jurisdiction. The findings have reignited concerns about the reliability of fuel-switch locking mechanisms in Boeing aircraft, particularly as investigators now examine their role in this catastrophe.

The report from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) referenced voice recordings from the cockpit, revealing that a pilot was heard questioning, “Why did he cut off?” The other pilot reportedly denied any manual actions, adding to speculation over potential mechanical failure or pilot error. Although both switches were re-engaged to restore fuel flow, the aircraft was already too low to recover.

Concern over the switches is not new. A US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) bulletin issued in 2018 recommended checks on the locking mechanisms of fuel switches across various Boeing models, including the 787. While these recommendations were not deemed an urgent safety issue at the time, the recent accident has raised questions about whether earlier warnings were sufficiently addressed. Boeing’s response to the tragedy remains under critical assessment across the aviation industry.

Speculation has grown online over whether the switches might have malfunctioned independently or were deliberately disengaged. Some experts argue that such switches typically require manual input to disengage, ruling out automatic failure. Others have pointed to potential human error but have cautioned against premature conclusions, given the early stage of the investigation.

Air India’s Chief Executive, Campbell Wilson, has appealed for restraint, reminding staff and the public that the preliminary report aims only to provide basic facts. He noted that while it has shed light on the circumstances, it has also raised significant new questions. The country’s pilots’ association strongly criticised what it described as “reckless speculation” about pilot suicide, calling such claims “unfounded” and deeply insensitive to victims’ families.

As the investigation unfolds, the tragedy has sent ripples through global aviation, reviving debates about aircraft safety, cockpit protocols, and mechanical reliability. Authorities and industry stakeholders alike are under mounting pressure to ensure such an incident cannot occur again.