Air India Crash: DGCA Orders Mandatory Checks On Boeing Fuel Switches By July 21
In a major move following the preliminary investigation into last month’s deadly Air India crash, India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has ordered mandatory inspections of engine fuel switches on all affected Boeing aircraft registered in the country.
Airlines have been given a deadline of July 21, 2025, to complete the checks on their Boeing 787 Dreamliner and certain 737 series aircraft.
The directive is a direct consequence of the shocking findings in the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s (AAIB) initial report on the June 12 crash in Ahmedabad. The report revealed that the fuel cutoff switches on the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had mysteriously moved from the “RUN” to “CUTOFF” position within seconds of takeoff, starving both engines of fuel and leading to the crash that killed 260 people.
The DGCA order specifically cites a 2018 Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This bulletin had warned about a potential issue where the locking feature on the fuel control switches could disengage, making them vulnerable to inadvertent operation.
The AAIB report had noted that this FAA advisory was non-binding, and therefore, the recommended inspections had not been carried out by Air India on the ill-fated aircraft.
By making the inspection mandatory, the DGCA is now ensuring that all similar aircraft in India are checked for this potential vulnerability to prevent any recurrence.
The AAIB’s preliminary report had highlighted that just before the crash, both of the aircraft’s engine fuel cutoff switches moved to the “cutoff” position, leading to a complete loss of thrust. While the probe is still ongoing to determine whether this was due to a technical malfunction, human error, or a combination of factors, the DGCA’s swift action aims to address the specific mechanical concern flagged in the 2018 US advisory.
