The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has stated that fuel control switches in Boeing airplanes are safe, after their alleged participation in a deadly Air India crash, in which 260 people were killed in June.
The security of the switch has become an important point after the initial report on the disaster was released by the investigators on Friday.
The report stated that the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner engines were cut in moments after a take-off from Ahmedabad Airport, and the previous FAA reports were highlighted that suggested that the switch should be inspected for security.
The flight 171 accident, which was going towards London when crashed, was one of the worst aviation incidents globally in almost a decade.
The switch controlling fuel flow in jet engines was taken from “run” to “cut-off” position, published by India’s plane crash investigation branch (AAIB), which, according to the initial report, disrupting the emphasis of the aircraft.
Investigators mentioned the 2018 FAA consultant, which was requested – but did not give the mandate – the operators of the Boeing model to inspect the locking facility of the fuel cut -off switch to ensure that they could not be transferred from an accident.
The step was not taken by Air India, AAIB said in its initial conclusions.
The FAA on Friday told the civil aviation officials that it had seen the initial report of the AAIB.
It was noted that its 2018 advisor was based on “reports that fuel control switch was installed with a locking feature” – but said it does not believe that it makes the aircraft unsafe.
“However, fuel control switch design, including the locking feature, is the same on the model of various Boeing airplanes, FAA does not consider the issue an unsafe position that will warrant an airwelling instruction on any Boeing airplane model including model 787,” The authority said in an internal note shared with BBC.
“The FAA will continue to share relevant information with foreign national aviation officers appropriately.”
Aaib, who recovered the cockpit voice recording, said that during the flight one pilot could be heard as to why he asked the other why he cut the fuel.
“The other pilot replied that he did not do so,” the report states.
Investigators said the fuel switch had flipped from the run-off after the take-offs almost simultaneously. The report did not reveal how the switches could be flipped during the flight.
Air India Flight 171 was scheduled to fly from Ahmedabad to London’s Gatwick Airport in India.
The aircraft crashed at a medical college near the airport within a minute of the take-off, causing 260 people who were mostly passengers. A British national accident survived.
Investigators are expected to produce more detailed reports in 12 months.
