“After Air India Tragedy, DGCA and Airlines Worldwide Inspect Boeing Fuel Controls”

 

DGCA Orders Fuel Switch Inspection on Boeing Aircraft After Air India Crash; Etihad and South Korea Follow Suit

India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has directed all airlines operating certain Boeing aircraft to inspect the locking mechanisms on their fuel control switches by July 21. The move comes in the wake of an interim investigation report into the Air India crash on June 12, which pointed to a critical issue involving the accidental flipping of fuel switches that led to a double-engine failure.

The tragic crash claimed the lives of 241 people on board and at least 19 on the ground, raising serious concerns over aircraft safety mechanisms.

Although the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's interim report concluded there were “no recommended actions” for operators of Boeing 787-8 aircraft or GE GEnx-1B engines, the DGCA has decided to take a more precautionary stance. The regulator has asked airlines to revisit and comply with a 2018 safety advisory (SAIB Number: NM-18-33, dated December 17, 2018) issued by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The FAA, in a private communication sent on July 11, reiterated the importance of inspections, referencing the same 2018 advisory. Interestingly, the FAA maintained that there were no immediate safety threats to the Boeing 787-8 or its systems based on the most recent findings.

However, that hasn't stopped aviation authorities across the world from acting. Etihad Airways, based in the UAE, has issued two internal safety directives to its flight crews. The first urges pilots to "exercise caution" when using the fuel control switches or any nearby components in the cockpit. It also warns against placing objects on the pedestal area that might accidentally flip the switches. Pilots have been asked to report any irregularities immediately.

The second directive mandates a detailed inspection of the locking mechanisms on the fuel switches of Etihad’s Boeing 787 fleet to ensure the issue is not replicated.

Meanwhile, South Korea’s aviation authority is preparing to issue a similar order requiring all carriers operating Boeing aircraft to conduct inspections of the same system. This is expected to impact a wide range of international carriers operating in the region.

In India, the DGCA directive affects several major airlines. These include Air India’s 33 Boeing 787s, Air India Express’s 26 Boeing 737-NGs and 49 Boeing Max jets, Akasa Air’s 29 Boeing aircraft, and around 14 Boeing 737-NGs belonging to SpiceJet. Air India has stated that half of its Dreamliner fleet has already been inspected, along with all of Air India Express’s 737 aircraft.

The DGCA has made it clear that the inspection deadline of July 21, 2025, must be strictly followed by all operators. Even though the investigation has not concluded that Boeing’s aircraft systems or engines were directly at fault, aviation authorities are taking no chances, emphasizing the importance of proactive safety checks over reactive measures.