Regulatory authorities in India, South Korea, and Singapore have launched immediate inspections of fuel control switches on Boeing airplanes, prompted by the findings from the June crash of Air India Flight 171. The investigation determined that the aircraft's fuel supply was disabled shortly after takeoff, leading to a thorough examination of potential causes.
The preliminary report released by Indian investigators did not establish a definitive cause for the crash, which resulted in the loss of several lives. However, it largely dismissed mechanical failures and design flaws as contributing factors, instead focusing on the fuel control switches of the Boeing 787 involved in the incident. Notably, the investigation revealed that both switches had been turned off only moments after the flight's departure. Each switch has a locking mechanism designed to prevent unintentional activation, leading experts to speculate that their deactivation likely involved human action.
The report referred to a 2018 advisory from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which recommended airlines operating Boeing models—specifically the 787—perform inspections on the locks of fuel control switches to ensure they are foolproof against accidental shifts. The preliminary findings noted that Air India had not implemented these inspections because they were not mandated, while the FAA maintained that the concerns raised about the locking mechanism were not severe enough to warrant classification as a safety risk.
In light of these revelations, Singapore Airlines, along with its subsidiary Scoot, reported that they had completed their inspections of all Boeing aircraft.
