New Delhi: Air India claims to have found no issues after completing inspections of the fuel control switch (FCS) locking mechanisms in all its Boeing 737 and 787-8 Dreamliners. The inspections were carried out in accordance with safety directives issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) earlier this month.
“Air India has completed precautionary inspections on the locking mechanism of Fuel Control Switch (FCS) on all Boeing 787 and Boeing 737 aircraft in its fleet,” the airline said in a statement released on Tuesday.
The inspections come in the aftermath of a tragic Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, in which 260 people lost their lives. A preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) revealed that the aircraft’s engines had shut down just seconds after take-off due to fuel supply being cut off.
The report led to renewed concerns about the functioning of the engine fuel control switches, which transitioned from ‘Run’ to ‘Cut-off’ unexpectedly. The switches have a locking mechanism and are supposed to be operated manually by the pilots.
Following the fatal Ahmedabad crash and the DGCA’s directive issued on July 14, Air India and its low-cost subsidiary Air India Express initiated immediate voluntary inspections. The inspections were completed within the time limit set by DGCA.
“In the inspections, no issues were found with the said locking mechanism. Air India had started voluntary inspections on 12 July and completed them within the prescribed time limit set by the DGCA. The same has been communicated to the regulator,” the airline added in its statement.
The Boeing 737 aircraft, which were also inspected, are part of the Air India Express fleet, the company added.
“Air India remains committed to the safety of passengers and crew members,” the airline added.
Meanwhile, several international carriers, including Emirates, are also conducting similar checks on their Boeing aircraft as a precaution, even though the FAA has not issued any new airworthiness directive. The American regulator has assured global aviation authorities that the fuel control switch design remains safe.