India’s aviation watchdog has ordered the country’s airlines to check a potential issue with the fuel control switch locking feature on Boeing aircraft, after a preliminary report into the crash of Air India 171 found these switches were suddenly switched to the “cut-off” position, restricting the flow of fuel to both engines and triggering a total loss of power.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said it had issued the order after several Indian and international airlines began making their owns inspections of fuel switches.
In December 2018, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a notice about a potential issue with the fuel control switch locking feature on Boeing’s 737 aircraft. Some operators reported that these switches were installed without the locking feature engaged. However, the FAA did not consider this issue serious enough to require a mandatory fix.
The design of this fuel control switch, including the locking feature, is similar across various Boeing models. Air India did not perform the suggested inspections because the bulletin was advisory, not mandatory.
The DGCA order outlined that all checks must be carried out no later than July 21, 2025.