Following reports suggesting their involvement in a fatal Air India crash in June that claimed 260 lives, the US aviation regulator has affirmed the safety of fuel control switches in Boeing aircraft.
The safety of these switches has emerged as a key concern after a preliminary report on the disaster was released by investigators on Friday.
The report indicated that fuel to the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner engines was cut off shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport, also highlighting past advisories from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that recommended inspecting the switches for safety.
In an email seen by the BBC, Air India’s chief cautioned against drawing “premature conclusions” following the report’s publication.
The incident involving London-bound Flight 171 ranks among the most devastating aviation incidents worldwide in nearly a decade.
The crash resulted in the deaths of 229 passengers, 12 cabin crew members, and 19 individuals on the ground. One British national survived.
According to the preliminary report issued by the India Aircraft Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB), the fuel flow control switches to the jet’s engines were switched from the “run” to the “cut-off” position, which impeded the plane’s thrust.
Investigators cited a 2018 FAA advisory that urged – but did not mandate – operators of Boeing models to inspect the locking mechanism of the fuel cut-off switches to ensure they could not be inadvertently moved.
The AAIB’s initial findings indicated that Air India had not taken this step.
The FAA informed civil aviation authorities on Friday that it had reviewed the AAIB’s preliminary report.
The agency noted that its 2018 advisory “was based on reports that the fuel control switches were installed with the locking feature disengaged” but asserted that it does not believe this renders the planes unsafe.
“Although the fuel control switch design, including the locking feature, is similar on various Boeing airplane models, the FAA does not consider this issue to be an unsafe condition that would warrant an Airworthiness Directive on any Boeing airplane models, including the Model 787,” the authority stated in an internal note shared with the BBC.
“The FAA will continue to share relevant information with foreign civil aviation authorities as appropriate.”
The AAIB, which reviewed recovered cockpit voice recordings, reported that one pilot could be heard during the flight asking the other why he cut off the fuel.
“The other pilot responded that he did not do so,” the report stated.
Investigators reported that the fuel switches had almost simultaneously switched from run to cut-off shortly after takeoff. The report did not explain how the switches could have been flipped during the flight.
Air India chief executive Campbell Wilson has cautioned staff against drawing “premature conclusions” regarding the cause of the accident in an email.
He noted that there has been “an ongoing cycle of theories, allegations, rumours and sensational headlines” over the past month, many of which have been subsequently disproven.
He emphasized that the report has not identified a cause for the accident, nor has it made any recommendations.
“The investigation is far from over,” he stated. Investigators are expected to produce a more detailed report in 12 months.
Mr. Wilson stated: “We will continue to cooperate with the investigators to ensure they have everything they need to conduct a thorough and comprehensive enquiry.”
Mr. Wilson said the report had “found no mechanical or maintenance issues with the aircraft or engines”, adding that all necessary checks had been carried out before the flight.
Nevertheless, extra checks had been carried out across Air India’s 787 fleet within days of the accident “out of an abundance of caution”. All were found to be fit for service, he said.
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