A recent crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner has raised concerns about the safety of fuel switch controls, prompting international investigations and potential inspections. The plane crashed just minutes after takeoff, killing 19 people on the ground and all but one person on board.
According to a preliminary report by the Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the fuel switches for both engines moved to the “cutoff” position almost immediately after takeoff, starving the engines of fuel. This was reportedly due to either a mechanical fault or an action taken by one of the pilots, although the investigation is ongoing.
Aviation expert Sanjay Lazar has expressed concerns about the report, stating that it raises more questions than it answers and highlights the lack of transparency in the full cockpit transcript. The AAIB-provided notes indicate that “either none of them cut it off and it got cut off some other way, or… there was some element of subterfuge,” adding a cloud of mystery to the investigation.
The focus of the probe is now shifting towards Boeing’s fuel intake controls, with officials investigating potential directives from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) related to the issue. Some airlines have already initiated their own checks, including Japan’s All Nippon Airways and Singapore Airlines.
Air India has admitted to not following up on a 2018 non-mandatory directive regarding the fuel switches, but its maintenance records show that the throttle control module was replaced in 2023 with no apparent link to the issue. The airline CEO Campbell Wilson has downplayed concerns, stating that all mandatory maintenance and checks were completed on the aircraft.
The investigation is ongoing, but the incident raises further questions about Boeing’s safety record. In recent years, multiple Boeing crashes have occurred due to issues with fuel systems and engine control, leading some to question the company’s commitment to safety.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/air-india-crash-boeing-aircraft-in-the-spotlight/a-73286258