Air India completes inspection of fuel switches on Boeing aircraft

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Air India completes inspection of fuel switches on Boeing aircraft

Policy

Air India Boeing 737 | Official Website

By Sky Industry News

Jul 24, 2025

Air India has completed inspections of the fuel switches on its Boeing 737 and 787 Dreamliner aircraft, finding "no issues" with the locking mechanism. This follows a directive from India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) after an investigation into Air India Flight 171 focused on the Fuel Control Switches. The switches were reportedly moved from 'RUN' to 'CUTOFF,' raising suspicions of a deliberate crash attempt.

The airline confirmed that checks on its Boeing 787 fleet and subsidiary Air India Express's Boeing 737 aircraft revealed no problems. This aligns with statements from Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) affirming the safety of the fuel switches on the 787 Dreamliner.

A preliminary report noted that Flight 171's fuel switches were moved within one second of each other before being returned to RUN about ten seconds later. An FAA advisory from 2018 had recommended inspecting these switches for accidental movement.

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"In the inspections, no issues were found with the said locking mechanism," Air India stated, noting that voluntary inspections began on July 12 and concluded within DGCA's timeframe.

The DGCA has also directed other Indian airlines operating Boeing models to conduct similar inspections. South Korean authorities have issued comparable orders following a recent Jeju Air crash involving a Boeing 737-800.

Fuel Control Switches manage engine fuel flow, typically remaining in RUN until landing unless emergencies require them to be set to CUTOFF.

India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released a preliminary report on July 12, with a final report expected within a year. It highlighted simultaneous switch movements and cockpit voice recorder exchanges between pilots. A Wall Street Journal article suggested that insider sources identified the senior captain as likely responsible for moving the switches, though this claim faced criticism from AAIB and pilot unions warning against premature conclusions.