Air India announced on Tuesday that thorough inspections of its Boeing aircraft have been completed, revealing no faults in the fuel switch locking mechanisms. This inspection comes after a harrowing crash last month that resulted in the loss of 260 lives, including 19 on the ground. The Air India Boeing 787-8 was involved in a tragic incident shortly after its takeoff from Ahmedabad, where initial investigations have raised concerns over the aircraft's fuel control switches.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau of India has suggested that the plane's fuel switches switched from the "RUN" position to "CUTOFF" just moments before the crash. This transition, whether deliberate or accidental, is suspected to have been influenced by human action, as safety experts emphasize that the switches are designed to prevent unintended movement.
In light of the crash on June 12, Indian aviation regulators mandated that airlines perform inspections on the fuel switches of their Boeing fleets. In response, Air India, the country's leading airline, stated that it has conducted precautionary checks on the locking mechanisms of the fuel switches and found no issues.
The investigation report revealed that just before the fatal crash, one pilot questioned why the fuel cutoff was initiated, to which the co-pilot denied doing so. After approximately ten seconds of lost fuel supply, the switches were reactivated, but the jet was unable to regain sufficient power to avert its descent.
Continuing investigation efforts will delve deeper into the causes of this disaster, which is expected to take a considerable amount of time as more information comes to light.
