Air India has confirmed that all of its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft have passed precautionary safety inspections related to the fuel control switch (FCS) system, with no issues found, airline officials said on Wednesday.
The checks were carried out after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a directive earlier this week, requiring airlines to inspect the FCS locking mechanism on specific Boeing aircraft by July 21.
The inspection directive followed a tragic crash in Ahmedabad, where a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner went down shortly after takeoff, killing 260 people. According to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the fuel cutoff switches for both engines were moved to the “cutoff” position one second apart—moments after liftoff. This sudden shutdown led to engine failure and a crash just 32 seconds after takeoff.
Air India responded swiftly, conducting precautionary checks over the weekend across its entire Boeing 787 fleet. An official from the Tata-owned airline said:
“All our Boeing 787-8 aircraft have already undergone throttle control module (TCM) replacements as per Boeing’s maintenance guidelines. The fuel control switch (FCS) is part of this module.”
The official also confirmed that no anomalies were discovered in any of the aircraft during the inspection process. A communication about the findings was shared with Air India pilots through internal flight operation channels.
Earlier this year, Air India Express had also checked nearly its entire Boeing 737 Max fleet for similar fuel switch concerns. Once again, no safety issues were found.
Interestingly, the AAIB report pointed out that Air India had not acted on a 2018 FAA safety bulletin related to the FCS locking feature, as it was marked “non-mandatory” at the time. That advisory had warned of possible disengagement of the fuel control switch lock, which is similar in design across various Boeing aircraft models, including part number 4TL837-3D—used in the Ahmedabad crash aircraft.
Despite the past oversight, Air India’s proactive inspections now aim to restore passenger confidence and ensure full compliance with global aviation safety standards.
Conclusion:
Air India’s swift action and clean safety record for its Dreamliner fleet show a renewed commitment to operational excellence and passenger safety. As aviation oversight tightens globally, travelers can take comfort knowing that these crucial checks are being taken seriously.
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