India and South Korea Order Boeing Aircraft Inspections After Deadly Air India Crash

Indian and South Korean aviation authorities have ordered comprehensive inspections of Boeing aircraft after an Air India 787-8 Dreamliner crashed in Ahmedabad last month, resulting in 260 fatalities. The incident, which claimed the lives of 19 people on the ground and all but one of the 242 passengers and crew onboard, is the deadliest aviation accident in India in a decade.

A preliminary report from India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) indicated that the fuel switches for both engines moved to the "cutoff" position shortly after takeoff, causing the engines to lose power. It remains unclear whether this was due to pilot action or a mechanical fault. The report included a cockpit voice recording in which one pilot questioned the other about the cutoff, with both denying responsibility, according to AAIB officials. The switches reportedly returned to the "run" position seconds later, but the aircraft was unable to recover.

Aviation expert Sanjay Lazar noted that the preliminary findings "raise more questions" and criticized the lack of a full cockpit transcript. He pointed to previous directives from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding potential faults with fuel switches, including a mandatory 2022 order addressing risks of uncommanded activation due to foreign object debris. Air India acknowledged it did not act on an earlier, non-mandatory directive, and it is unclear if the airline complied with the 2022 order. Maintenance records show the throttle control module was replaced in 2023, but not due to fuel switch concerns, according to the AAIB.

Air India CEO Campbell Wilson stated in an internal memo that the AAIB report "provided both greater clarity and opened additional questions," urging staff not to draw premature conclusions. Wilson also confirmed that all mandatory maintenance had been completed and that there were no issues with fuel quality or pilot medical status.

In response to the crash, airlines in Japan, Singapore, and Germany have conducted their own checks on Boeing 787 fleets, reporting no faults. Indian investigators are expected to submit findings on the fuel switches soon, though a final report may take a year or more. The Airline Pilots' Association of India has requested observer status in the investigation, expressing concern about potential bias against pilots. Boeing, which has faced scrutiny following previous fatal crashes and safety incidents, has assured airlines that its fuel switch locks are safe.