India and South Korea have instructed airlines operating in their countries to conduct a thorough investigation to ensure there are no issues with critical switches used in the fuel supply system of engines in certain Boeing aircraft models. This safety measure comes in the wake of a recent Air India plane crash that resulted in numerous fatalities among passengers. The June incident claimed the lives of 260 people on board the Air India flight, with only one survivor. As a comprehensive investigation into the accident continues, it has been revealed that a potential malfunction in the main switches used for fuel supply to the engines could be among the factors that led to the crash. However, Boeing and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have stated that the fuel switches used in Boeing aircraft are confirmed to be safe.
Preliminary findings from the Air India crash investigation have shown that the fuel lock switches on the aircraft were turned off at the time of takeoff from the runway. Voice recordings from the black box reveal one pilot questioning the other about why the switch was turned off, with the second pilot denying any such action. The investigative report also notes that in 2018, the FAA had issued guidance to verify that there were no issues with the fuel lock switches on Boeing 787 aircraft. However, it is noted that the FAA did not issue a mandatory order for this check.
In response to this situation, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation has announced that it will require airlines operating Boeing 787 and 737 aircraft in India to conduct an investigation of their fuel switches. Reports indicate that both Indian airlines and international airlines flying to India have begun these investigations. India currently has the third-largest and fastest-growing aviation sector. The four largest airlines providing air services in the country use Boeing aircraft.
Following the FAA’s 2018 guidance to investigate fuel lock switches on certain Boeing aircraft models, many airlines responded accordingly. These included Qantas Airways of Australia, ANA and Japan Airlines of Japan, Singapore Airlines, the budget carrier Scoot, and Korean Air. South Korea’s Ministry of Transport has also stated that it has instructed airlines to verify that there are no issues with the fuel lock switches on Boeing aircraft used in the country.
