Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Jul 22: Air India announced on Tuesday that it has concluded precautionary inspections of the fuel control switch (FCS) locking mechanisms on all its Boeing 787 and Boeing 737 aircraft, following safety concerns raised after last month’s fatal crash in Ahmedabad.

The airline confirmed that no defects were found during the inspections, which were carried out in accordance with directives issued by India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) earlier this month.

“Air India has completed precautionary inspections on the locking mechanism of the Fuel Control Switch (FCS) on all Boeing 787 and Boeing 737 aircraft in its fleet,” the airline said in a statement.

The move follows the deadly crash of an Air India Boeing Dreamliner on June 28 in Ahmedabad, which claimed 260 lives. A preliminary investigation by the Air Accidents Investigation Bureau (AAIB) revealed that the aircraft’s engines shut down just moments after take-off due to a sudden disruption in fuel supply.

Investigators traced the cause to a malfunction in the fuel control switches, which unexpectedly shifted from ‘Run’ to ‘Cutoff’ mode, cutting off engine power.

In response, the DGCA issued a safety directive on July 14, prompting Air India and its low-cost arm, Air India Express, to initiate voluntary inspections — which had actually begun two days earlier, on July 12.

“Air India had proactively started inspections before the DGCA directive and completed them within the prescribed timeline. No issues were detected, and the results have been communicated to the regulator,” the airline said.

The Boeing 737s inspected belong to the Air India Express fleet, which also completed checks in tandem with the parent airline. Both carriers have now fully complied with the regulator’s mandate.

“Passenger and crew safety remains our highest priority,” the airline reiterated.

Globally, other airlines — including Dubai-based Emirates — are also conducting similar precautionary checks on their Boeing aircraft, although the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not yet issued a formal airworthiness directive. The FAA has maintained that the FCS design remains safe and reliable.

Air India’s swift compliance underscores heightened scrutiny and industry-wide caution in the wake of the tragic crash, even as investigations continue.