Air India Flight Crash: Aviation Regulator Orders Fuel Control Inspection Of Boeing, Other Planes
The inspection is mandatory and should be completed by July 21, the DGCA said
Air India Flight Crash: India's aviation regulator has ordered an inspection of the Fuel Control system of Boeing and other aircraft operating in the country.
The move by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) came after a 15-page preliminary report on the Air India plane crash on June 12, which killed 260 people, revealed that the switches supplying fuel to the aircraft's engines were turned off within a span of one second after take-off—one of the key factors behind the tragedy.
The inspection is mandatory and should be completed by July 21, the DGCA said.
The aircraft models to be inspected include a wide range of Boeing planes such as the 737, 747, 757, 767, 777, and 787, along with older models like the 717 and 727, as well as some McDonnell Douglas aircraft (MD-11 and MD-90 series). Many Indian carriers operate these aircraft in their fleets.
The Ahmedabad crash was the first time that Boeing's best-selling Dreamliner suffered a fatal accident resulting in hull loss.
What Is Fuel Switch? How Does It Work?
On June 12, the London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner began to lose thrust almost immediately after taking off from the Ahmedabad airport and ploughed into a medical college hostel, killing all but one of the 242 onboard and another 19 on ground in the deadliest aviation accident in a decade.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's (AAIB) preliminary probe report on the fatal Air India plane accident has put the spotlight on the fuel switches of the crashed Boeing 787-8 and the confusion among the two pilots over the switches being cut off.
Fuel switches regulate the flow of fuel into an aircraft's engines. The switch has two positions — 'RUN' and 'CUT OFF' — and are used to start or shut down engines.
According to a veteran pilot, the position of a fuel switch cannot be changed accidentally and there is a procedure in place.
The fuel switches are generally guarded with brackets so that there are no accidental movements. The switches have to be first pulled up before changing their position, the pilot said.
In a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the fuel switches are located under the thrust levers. In the case of the ill-fated AI 171 flight, the fuel switches to the two engines of the aircraft were cut off within a gap of one second and later, they were switched on.
(with PTI inputs)
view comments
First Published:
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
3 hours ago
- Business Standard
Statsguru: Rising engine-failure incidents cast a shadow on Indian skies
The common issues identified include failures in the High-Pressure Turbine and Gear Turbo Engine systems Jayant Pankaj Listen to This Article On July 16, an IndiGo flight was forced to make an emergency landing at the Mumbai airport following a reported engine failure. Two more similar incidents involving IndiGo took place within the same week. In the wake of the Boeing AI 171 crash, concerns over aircraft safety have intensified. However, these are not isolated cases. Flight cancellations in India, particularly those caused by technical glitches, have risen in the past four years to peak in 2023, with engine failures being a major contributing factor. IndiGo, which operates the largest fleet among Indian carriers — including SpiceJet, Air India, and others
Deccan Herald
3 days ago
- Deccan Herald
DGCA took punitive action against AI Express for non-compliance with airworthiness directive: Mohol
During a surveillance inspection of Air India Express by DGCA, it was found that the airline had not complied with the EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) Airworthiness Directive on the engines installed on the Airbus A320 aircraft.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Engine alert halts IndiGo flight take-off in A'bad
Ahmedabad/New Delhi: A Diu-bound IndiGo flight was grounded Wednesday morning after pilots spotted an "engine one flameout warning" while preparing to depart from Ahmedabad, officials said. The ATR 72-600 turboprop, operating as Flight 6E 7966, had completed taxiing and was lined up for its scheduled 11am take-off when the cockpit alert triggered a precautionary return to the parking bay. All 70 passengers and crew deplaned safely. The aircraft was also scheduled to fly onward to Nagpur later in the day, but both legs were cancelled. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad "A technical snag indication was noticed just before take-off… The aircraft will undergo necessary checks and maintenance before resuming operations," IndiGo said in a statement. DGCA is investigating the episode, which comes amid intensified oversight following the June 12 crash of Air India Flight 171 in Ahmedabad. According to officials, there was no threat to passenger safety and that standard protocol was followed. "We regret the inconvenience caused to our customers… As always, safety of our customers and crew remains the top priority at IndiGo," the airline said. Passengers were offered refreshments, alternative bookings on upcoming flights, or full refunds.
