In the wake of the tragic Air India Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad that claimed 260 lives, the airline has announced the successful completion of precautionary inspections on all Boeing 787 and Boeing 737 aircraft in its fleet. These inspections focused on the locking mechanism of the Fuel Control Switch (FCS), a component now under global scrutiny. The inspections were conducted following a safety directive issued by India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), prompted by concerns that the FCS may have inadvertently caused the engines to shut down mid-air during the Ahmedabad incident.

A preliminary report by the Air Accidents Investigation Bureau (AAIB) indicated that fuel supply to the engines was abruptly cut off just after take-off, leading to a catastrophic crash. The report specifically flagged the unexpected switch of the FCS from ‘Run’ to ‘Cutoff’. In response, Air India and its low-cost subsidiary, Air India Express, began voluntary checks on July 12, even before the formal directive was issued on July 14. The inspections were completed within the stipulated timeframe, and no faults were found, according to the airline’s official statement. The findings have been formally communicated to the DGCA, confirming full compliance with regulatory guidelines.

Air India emphasized its ongoing commitment to passenger safety and highlighted that international carriers such as Emirates have also initiated similar inspections on their Boeing fleets. Although the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not issued a new airworthiness directive, it has reassured global aviation bodies that the FCS design remains fundamentally sound. Nevertheless, the recent accident has renewed global focus on aviation safety standards, particularly in aircraft control systems. With the completion of these critical inspections, Air India aims to restore public confidence and ensure that such tragedies are never repeated.