Indian State Agencies Confirm No Malfunctions in Dreamliner Fuel Control Switch Locking Mechanism

The central government of India has stated that no deviations were found in the locking mechanism of the fuel control switch on the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12 last year. This incident resulted in the deaths of 260 people on board and on the ground.

Switch Inspection Results

The Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, informed the Rajya Sabha that the fuel control switch was inspected at the Original Equipment Manufacturer's (OEM) level in Seattle. This inspection was conducted as part of continuous airworthiness checks ordered by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), according to Reuters.

A detailed analysis of the fuel control switch, including checking the structural integrity of its fasteners, showed no violations. However, according to Mohol's statement in response to questions from Congress member Jabi Mazher Hisham, the entire thrust control module is still under study at the OEM facility in Seattle.

Government Stance on Investigation

The government also dismissed suggestions that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is delaying the publication of the final crash report. During a question in the Rajya Sabha, Mazher requested an explanation from the government regarding the delay in publishing the report more than a year after the disaster, and inquired whether pilot behavior was considered among the factors and when the date for the public release of the full report would be announced.

Mohol responded that there are no delays in the investigation because the timelines for major aviation investigations cannot be predetermined, as they depend on multiple variables and represent an ongoing process. The minister emphasized that all possible causes and contributing factors of the accident are under close scrutiny.

Incident Details and Preliminary Findings

Air India flight AI-171, bound for London, crashed shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. The Boeing 787 struck the medical college dormitory complex immediately after takeoff. In the tragedy, 241 people died on board and 19 on the ground, with one passenger surviving.

A preliminary investigation published last year established that the fuel control switches on both engines switched from the 'RUN' position to the 'CUTOFF' position shortly after takeoff, leading to the cessation of fuel supply and the shutdown of both engines. The cockpit recording also captured a brief dialogue between the pilots, in which one apparently asked the other about the reason for moving the switches, and the second denied it. This finding raised questions about whether the switches were moved by the pilot or if a technical problem was the cause.

The Indian government stated that the full investigation report, containing all findings, will be made public and posted on the AAIB website upon completion of the investigation. However, a specific date for the publication of the final report was not provided.