FAA Declares Boeing Fuel Switches Safe Amid Ongoing Air India Crash Investigation

The FAA has stated that fuel control switches in Boeing aircraft remain safe despite being implicated in an Air India crash that killed 260 people. Preliminary findings suggest that the switches were accidentally turned off, raising concerns about their design and previous safety advisories. The investigation continues as more information is expected in the upcoming year.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has affirmed that the fuel control switches deployed in Boeing aircraft are safe, even as concerns arise following a tragic Air India crash that resulted in the loss of 260 lives this past June. Preliminary investigation findings reported by the India Aircraft Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) indicated that the fuel to the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner's engines was cut off shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, India, raising alarms regarding the functionality of these switches.

The crash of Flight 171, which was en route to London, marks one of the most devastating aviation accidents in nearly a decade. The AAIB's initial report disclosed that the fuel flow switches had unexpectedly changed from the "run" to "cut-off" position, severely impairing the aircraft's thrust. The investigators referenced a previous FAA advisory from 2018, which suggested, though did not mandate, that Boeing aircraft operators inspect the locking mechanisms of the fuel cut-off switches to prevent accidental activation—a precaution Air India reportedly did not implement.

The FAA, having reviewed the AAIB's preliminary findings, has informed civil aviation authorities that while its 2018 recommendation was based on issues related to the fuel control switch locking mechanism being disengaged, it does not classify these conditions as unsafe. "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," stated the FAA in an internal communication to the BBC.

The cockpit voice recordings recovered from the crash suggest some confusion during the flight, with one pilot asking why the fuel cutoff occurred and the other denying any such action. This revelation adds to the ongoing mystery surrounding the crash, with investigators keen to uncover how the fuel switches could have been manipulated so soon after departing.

In the aftermath of this incident, which took place within a minute of take-off, the investigation into Air India Flight 171 remains active. With a detailed final report anticipated within the next 12 months, both aviation safety experts and stakeholders worldwide are closely monitoring developments pertaining to this catastrophic event.