New Delhi: Even as the fuel control switches of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner Ahmedabad crash highlighted that it was on cut off mode, starving both engines of the fuel supply, the Air India on Tuesday said that it has carried out the precautionary inspection of these switches of its Boeing 737 and 787 fleet and no issues were found with it.
The airline in a statement said that it has completed precautionary inspections on the locking mechanism of Fuel Control Switch (FCS) on all Boeing 787 and Boeing 737 aircraft in its fleet.
“Boeing 737 aircraft are part of the fleet of Air India Express, Air India’s low cost subsidiary. With this, the two airlines have complied with the directives of the DGCA issued on July 14, 2025,” it said.
“In the inspections, no issues were found with the said locking mechanism,” Air India said.
Air India had started voluntary inspections on 12 July and completed them within the prescribed time limit set by the DGCA and the same has been communicated to the regulator.
Air India remains committed to the safety of passengers and crew members, it added.
After the AAIB preliminary report of the Air India AI171 crash on June 12 in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad highlighted that the fuel control switches in the cockpit of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had been flipped, starving the engines of fuel, the India’s civil aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), had ordered airlines to inspect the fuel switch locking mechanisms on their Boeing 787 fleets.
In an order dated July 14, the DGCA asked all Indian airlines to complete the inspection as per the Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) Number: NM 18-33, dated December 17, 2018 before July 21, 2025.
In an order, the DGCA said, “Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) number NM-18-33 dated December 17, 2018 regarding the potential for disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature on Boeing Company Model 717-200 airplanes; Model 737-700, -700C, -800, and -900ER series airplanes, Model 737-8 and -9 airplanes; Model 747-400, -400D, -400F, 8, and-8F series airplanes; Model 757-200, -200CB, -200PF, and -300 series airplanes: Model 767-200, -300,300F, -400ER, and -2C series airplanes; Model 787-8, -9, and -10 airplanes; Model MD-11 and MD-11F airplanes; and Model MD-90-30 airplanes.”
The DGCA issues mandatory modifications for aircraft or engines or components registered in India based on the airworthiness directives issued by State of Design or Manufacture.
“For other non-mandatory instructions including service bulletins, service letters and other information. such as SAIB issued by State of Design/Manufacture or OEM. CAR M- M.A. 301 Issue 2, R6, Dated 01 January 2024 contains requirements for action by the airline operators,” the DGCA said.
It also said that it has come to the notice of DGCA, that several operators-internationally as well as domestic have initiated inspection on their aircraft fleet as per the SAIB NM-18-33 dated December 17, 2018.
“In the view of above all airline operators of the affected aircraft are hereby advised to complete the inspection required under SAIB Number: NM-18-33, dated 17th December 2018, no later than 21st July 2025. Inspection plan and report after accomplishment of inspection shall be submitted to this office under intimation to concerned Regional Office,” it said.
It also said that strict adherence to the timeline is essential to ensure continued airworthiness and safety of operations.
The DGCA order had come just two days after the AAIB on July 12, 2025 shared its preliminary report into the crash of Air India London Gatwick bound flight AI 171 which led to the death of around 260 people, including 241 onboard and 19 on the ground.
According to the 15 page report prepared by India’s AAIB, the fuel control switches in the cockpit of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had been flipped, starving the engines of fuel.
Investigators at AAIB were able to get data out of the plane’s black box recorders, including 49 hours of flight data and two hours of cockpit audio, including from the crash.
The report highlighted: “The aircraft had reached an airspeed of 180 knots when both engines’ fuel cutoff switches were transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF position one after another with a time gap of 01 sec.”
