Following an Air India crash investigation that killed 260, the FAA has declared Boeing's fuel switches safe. The report revealed a crucial fuel cutoff at takeoff but did not deem the design unsafe, highlighting a need for operator inspections.
FAA Affirms Boeing Fuel Switch Safety Amid Air India Crash Investigations
FAA Affirms Boeing Fuel Switch Safety Amid Air India Crash Investigations
The US aviation authority maintains that Boeing's fuel control switches pose no safety risk, despite their involvement in a fatal crash that resulted in 260 deaths.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has declared the fuel control switches in Boeing aircraft to be safe, amidst investigations into a catastrophic Air India crash that took the lives of 260 people in June. This statement comes after a preliminary investigation report released on Friday that indicated the aircraft's fuel supply to its engines was interrupted just moments after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport, raising alarms about the switches' safety.
The crash of Air India Flight 171, which was en route to London, stands as one of the most devastating aviation tragedies in nearly a decade, claiming 240 lives aboard the flight and 20 more on the ground. The initial investigation, conducted by the India Aircraft Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB), pointed out that the aircraft's fuel control switches had abruptly shifted from "run" to "cut-off" position, severely impacting the airplane's thrust during a critical phase of flight.
In the wake of the incident, the AAIB referred to a 2018 FAA advisory that recommended, though did not mandate, inspections of the locking mechanism of the fuel cutoff switches to prevent inadvertent movements. It was highlighted that Air India did not follow this advisory, which could have potentially mitigated the risk associated with the switches.
Despite these findings, the FAA maintained its position on Friday, stating that while concerns regarding the locking feature of the fuel switches had been noted, they did not classify this issue as an unsafe condition. "The FAA does not believe this warrants an Airworthiness Directive on any Boeing models, including the 787," an internal note shared with the BBC confirmed.
In the audio recordings recovered from the cockpit, the investigators noted a disturbing exchange between the pilots, where one questioned why the fuel cut-off was engaged, to which the other adamantly replied that he did not do so. This troubling communication has added layers of complexity to the inquiry as investigators work to determine how both switches could have been switched to cut-off so closely after departure.
Following the tragic incident, investigators indicated that a more comprehensive report detailing further findings is anticipated to be released within the year. The unsettling nature of the crash highlights broader concerns about aircraft safety protocols and operator compliance.
