New Delhi: In a decisive move following the deadly Air India crash in Ahmedabad on June 12 that claimed 260 lives, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued an emergency directive mandating inspection and possible modification of engine fuel switches across all affected aircraft registered in India. This action comes in response to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s (AAIB) preliminary findings that point to a sudden and simultaneous shutdown of both engines shortly after takeoff.
The DGCA has instructed all airline operators to inspect the engine fuel control switches of Boeing aircraft — specifically the 737 and the 787 Dreamliner series — by July 21, 2025. The urgent directive includes necessary modifications to components and systems wherever required, based on global airworthiness directives issued by the aircraft’s country of origin.
According to AAIB’s 15-page preliminary report, both engines of the ill-fated Boeing 787-8 shut down just moments after the aircraft reached 180 knots airspeed. Shockingly, the fuel control switches for Engine 1 and Engine 2 shifted from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” within a single second of each other, leading to a complete loss of thrust. Although there was a brief moment of engine recovery, the system failed to stabilise, resulting in a catastrophic mid-air failure.
The report references a prior Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB No. NM-18-33) issued by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) back in December 2018, which had already raised concerns over the locking mechanism of engine fuel control switches in these aircraft models. The bulletin had warned about the potential for disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature, a flaw now suspected to have played a key role in the Ahmedabad crash.
In light of these revelations, DGCA has made it clear that the safety of passengers is non-negotiable. The regulator has committed to not only inspecting existing aircraft but also ensuring that no Boeing 737 or 787 re-enters service without passing these critical checks.
