Air India has completed thorough inspections of the Fuel Control Switch (FCS) locking mechanisms on its fleet of Boeing 787 and Boeing 737 aircraft. The precautionary exercise followed a tragic crash last month and was conducted in compliance with safety instructions from India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
The inspections were prompted by the devastating crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 on June 12. The aircraft, operating a flight from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed into a hostel building shortly after takeoff, killing 260 people — including 19 on the ground. Of the 242 passengers and crew onboard, only one survived. The cause of the crash is still under investigation, but it has triggered widespread concern over aviation safety measures.
In response, the DGCA issued a directive on July 14 requiring all airlines operating similar aircraft to inspect the FCS locking mechanism — a component that regulates fuel supply to the engines. Air India, which flies Boeing 787 Dreamliners, and its budget arm Air India Express, which operates Boeing 737s, promptly carried out the required checks.
An Air India spokesperson confirmed that no issues were found during the inspections. “Air India had already initiated voluntary checks on July 12, even before the DGCA directive was issued, and completed them well within the mandated timeline. This has been formally reported to the regulator,” the spokesperson said.
Reaffirming its commitment to safety, the airline added, “Air India remains dedicated to ensuring the highest standards of safety for its passengers and crew.”
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