In the wake of a catastrophic crash involving an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that occurred shortly after takeoff in Ahmedabad, India, the airline reported on Tuesday that extensive inspections of its Boeing fleet revealed no issues with the locking mechanisms of fuel switches. This investigation was prompted by the tragic incident last month, which claimed 260 lives, including 19 people on the ground.
The crash occurred on June 12, as the London-bound airplane plummeted seconds after departure due to a critical failure involving the fuel supply. Preliminary findings from the India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau indicated that the fuel switches controlling engine supply had shifted from "RUN" to "CUTOFF," with both switches reportedly changing positions in close succession. Experts emphasize that switching these controls is unlikely to have happened without human input, as they are designed with locking mechanisms to prevent accidental adjustments.
In response to safety concerns, Indian regulators mandated that all airlines conduct inspections on Boeing aircraft fuel switches. The inspections conducted by Air India have led the airline to confirm that no issues were found with the locking mechanisms of these switches.
Evidence from the preliminary report suggested confusion among the flight crew moments before the crash, with audio recordings capturing a pilot inquiring why the fuel cutoff occurred, to which the responding pilot indicated he hadn’t made such an adjustment. Despite efforts to restore fuel supply shortly after the switches were turned back on, the aircraft was unable to recover altitude quickly enough, leading to the fatal outcome.
Further investigations into the specific causes of the crash are expected to continue for months, as the complexities of such incidents often demand comprehensive analysis.
