In response to the recent Air India Flight 171 crash, aviation regulators across India, South Korea, and Singapore are initiating inspections of fuel control switches on Boeing aircraft. This step follows a preliminary report suggesting that the jet's fuel supply was unexpectedly cut just seconds after takeoff. The report indicates that both fuel control switches were found to be off, raising suspicions of human interference as these switches are designed to prevent accidental movement.
The preliminary findings ruled out mechanical or design failures, focusing instead on potential issues related to the fuel switches of the Boeing 787 involved in the crash. Authorities are responding to the Federal Aviation Administration's 2018 advisory, which recommended the examination of the locking mechanism in these control switches, noting that Air India had not conducted these inspections as they were deemed non-mandatory. With safety being a top priority, the aviation community is closely monitoring this investigation.
