Regulators in India and South Korea have initiated inspections of fuel control switches on Boeing airplanes following a report on a fatal Air India crash that indicated the aircraft's fuel supply had been cut.
Singapore Airlines announced that it, along with its low-cost subsidiary Scoot, has completed inspections of the switches on its Boeing aircraft.
The preliminary assessment by Indian investigators of the June 12 crash of Flight 171, released on Saturday, did not reach any definitive conclusions regarding the cause. However, it appeared to rule out mechanical failure or design flaws, focusing attention on the fuel switches of the Boeing 787 involved in the incident.
A notable finding indicated that the two fuel control switches on the crashed jet were turned off just seconds after takeoff, one after the other. Each switch features a locking mechanism designed to prevent accidental movement, leading experts to suggest that human involvement was likely in their deactivation.
The report and India's inspection directive referenced a 2018 advisory from the Federal Aviation Administration (F.A.A.) recommending that airlines operating Boeing models, including the 787, inspect the locking mechanism of the fuel control switches to ensure they could not be accidentally moved.
It was noted in the preliminary report that Air India had not conducted the recommended inspections, as they were not mandatory. The authors stated that the F.A.A. had not considered the concerns regarding the locking feature to be significant enough to pose an unsafe condition.
The report also mentioned that Air India had replaced the larger throttle module containing the fuel switches in 2019 and 2023, although these replacements were unrelated to the fuel switch issue. According to John Cox, a former airline pilot and chief executive of Safety Operating Systems, the part would likely have been inspected before installation to ensure the locking mechanism functioned properly.
The F.A.A. confirmed it had informed airlines about the Indian preliminary report and reiterated its stance that the issue raised in the 2018 advisory did not present an unsafe condition. Boeing also communicated with operators regarding the report, stating that no further action was recommended at this time.
India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation, which issued its directive on Monday, mandated that airlines operating Boeing models complete the inspections by July 21.
In a related development, Air India announced it would reinstate certain routes that had been suspended following the crash, which had resulted in flight cancellations and delays due to inspections of its Boeing Dreamliner fleet. Compounding challenges for Air India, the recent conflict between Iran and Israel led to temporary airspace closures by several Gulf countries, necessitating flight reroutes. The airline anticipates returning to a normal flight schedule by October 1.
The South Korean Transport Ministry also ordered inspections of the fuel switches, a requirement that had not been previously mandated. The ministry did not specify a deadline for compliance.
Singapore's Civil Aviation Authority stated it is collaborating with airlines on the inspections, with Singapore Airlines and Scoot reporting that all their fuel switches are functioning correctly. Jetstar Asia, Singapore's third airline, which is ceasing operations this month, does not operate Boeing aircraft.
The preliminary report detailed a confusing exchange between the pilots regarding the interrupted fuel supply. The cockpit voice recording revealed one pilot questioning the other about the fuel cutoff, to which the second pilot denied any involvement.
Approximately ten seconds later, the switches were reactivated, but the aircraft could not regain power swiftly enough to avert its descent. The report concluded that there are "no recommended actions" for the aircraft and engine manufacturers, Boeing and GE Aerospace, respectively.
The Air India plane ultimately crashed into a medical college dining hall, resulting in a total of 260 fatalities, including 19 individuals on the ground.
Concerns have emerged in India regarding a perceived lack of transparency in the investigation, alongside reports that seem to prematurely attribute blame to pilot error.
The Airline Pilots’ Association of India issued a statement expressing that the "tone and direction of the investigation suggest a bias toward pilot error."