India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a directive for airlines to inspect fuel control switches on Boeing jets in light of a tragic crash that claimed 260 lives in June. The order comes after a preliminary investigation linked the malfunctioning of these switches to the fatal accident of Flight 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, shortly after takeoff. This incident is marking one of the most catastrophic events in the aviation sector in nearly ten years.
The DGCA mandated airlines to perform these inspections by July 21, emphasizing the importance of adhering to this timeline to maintain airworthiness and safety protocols. This initiative follows a similar action taken by several international airlines who have already begun their assessments. Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) deemed the fuel control switches in Boeing models as safe; however, they had issued a 2018 advisory recommending operators examine the locking mechanisms of these switches to prevent accidental disengagement.
Air India was not obligated to conduct these inspections previously, and this has come under scrutiny following the recent reports. The FAA reinforced that while there were concerns regarding the switch locking feature, it does not classify the planes as unsafe.
In defense of the flight crew's actions, the Indian Commercial Pilots' Association highlighted that the pilots performed in accordance with their training amidst difficult circumstances and should not be blamed prematurely. The initial investigation revealed that critical information from the cockpit recordings indicated that one pilot noted a switch had been moved to the "cut-off" position, thereby reducing engine thrust, leading to immediate challenges during the flight.
As the aviation community absorbs these findings, other nations, including South Korea, have announced plans to inspect Boeing aircraft for similar compliance. The aviation industry remains vigilant amid ongoing investigations to address safety concerns effectively.
