No issues found with fuel control switches of Boeing planes: Air India

Tata Group-owned Air India on Tuesday completed precautionary inspections on the locking mechanism of Fuel Control Switch (FCS) on all Boeing 787 and Boeing 737 aircraft in its fleet.

Boeing 737 aircraft are part of the fleet of Air India Express, Air India’s low-cost subsidiary. With this, the two airlines have complied with the directives of the aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), issued on July 14, 2025.

“In the inspections, no issues were found with the said locking mechanism. Air India had started voluntary inspections on 12 July and completed them within the prescribed time limit set by the DGCA. The same has been communicated to the regulator,” Air India said in a statement.

The inspection comes close on the heels of a preliminary report released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on the fatal crash of London-bound Air India flight AI171, which killed all but one of the 242 people onboard and 20 others in a medical college dorm in Ahmedabad.

The AAIB report pointed out that engine fuel cutoff switches were recorded transitioning from 'RUN' to 'CUTOFF' positions in rapid succession—just one second apart.

As per the Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorder data, the Engine 1 fuel cutoff switch transitioned from 'CUTOFF' to 'RUN'. Thereafter, the Engine 2 fuel cutoff switch also transitions from 'CUTOFF' to 'RUN'.

"When fuel control switches are moved from CUTOFF to RUN while the aircraft is inflight, each engines full authority dual engine control (FADEC) automatically manages a relight and thrust recovery sequence of ignition and fuel introduction," the AAIB report said.

Following the report, India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), issued an advisory to Indian airlines operating specific Boeing aircraft models, instructing them to conduct mandatory inspections of the fuel control switch locking mechanism.

A Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) issued by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), warned of the potential disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature across a range of Boeing aircraft.

“It has come to the notice of DGCA, that several operators - internationally as well as domestic have initiated inspection on their aircraft fleet as per the SAIB NM-18-33 dated 17th December 2018. In the view of above all airline operators of the affected aircraft are hereby advised to complete the inspection required under SAIB Number: NM-18-33, dated 17th December 2018, no later than 21st July 2025,” the DGCA had said.

To be clear, the AAIB report offered "no recommended actions" for Boeing, the manufacturer of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft.