Air India Finds No Issues in Boeing 787, 737 Fuel Switch Inspections After Deadly Crash

Air India on Tuesday confirmed the successful completion of precautionary inspections of the Fuel Control Switch (FCS) locking mechanism on its entire Boeing 787 and Boeing 737 fleet, with no issues found.

The proactive inspections were prompted by the June 12 Air India plane crash, where a Boeing 787-8 aircraft tragically crashed into a building shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad en route to London Gatwick. The devastating incident claimed 260 lives, including 19 on the ground, and left only one survivor among the 242 passengers onboard.

"No issues were found with the said locking mechanism during the inspections. Air India had initiated voluntary inspections on July 12, even before the DGCA's directive, and completed them well within the prescribed timeline," an Air India spokesperson said. "The findings have been shared with the aviation regulator. Air India remains fully committed to passenger and crew safety."

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had earlier directed all Indian carriers to conduct mandatory checks on fuel control systems, following the release of a 15-page preliminary report. The report indicated that the fuel switches were turned off within a second of take-off, believed to be a critical factor behind the fatal crash.

The inspections covered aircraft from both Air India and Air India Express, ensuring compliance across the board.