In the wake of the Air India Flight AI-171 crash in June, which claimed the lives of 260 people, aviation authorities and major airlines in India and South Korea are initiating mandatory checks on fuel switch mechanisms in Boeing aircraft. The preliminary report by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) revealed that the fuel control switches of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, were moved from the "run" to the "cutoff" position moments before the crash. This caused the engines to lose thrust shortly after takeoff.

The AAIB's preliminary findings have brought the reliability of fuel switch locks into sharp focus. The report referenced a 2018 advisory issued by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which warned of potential malfunctions in fuel switch locking mechanisms. This advisory has prompted a global reassessment of safety protocols related to these components.

South Korea has taken swift action, mandating immediate inspections of fuel switch locks on all Boeing aircraft operated by domestic airlines. A spokesperson for the South Korean transport ministry stated that the checks align with the 2018 FAA advisory and are precautionary measures consistent with international safety standards. However, the ministry did not specify a timeline for the completion of these inspections.

Following the release of the preliminary report, the focus has been on a 2018 Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) issued by the FAA, which highlighted a potential issue with the disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature on certain Boeing models. The FAA's advisory recommended operators of specific Boeing models, including the 787, to inspect the locking function of the fuel cutoff switches to prevent accidental movement. Despite this advisory, Air India did not perform the recommended inspections, as they were not mandatory.

Aviation experts have weighed in on the possible causes of the accident. Aviation expert Captain Mohan Ranganathan said that human error led to the fuel switches being cut off before the crash. According to the AAIB report, the fuel supply to both engines of the plane was cut off within a gap of one second, causing confusion in the cockpit soon after takeoff.

The preliminary report from the AAIB also revealed that in the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why he cut off the fuel, to which the other pilot responded that he did not do so. The report did not identify which pilot made which remark, nor which one transmitted the "Mayday" call.

The investigation is ongoing, and the AAIB has not yet drawn any conclusions or apportioned blame for the accident. However, the preliminary findings have raised serious questions about the safety and reliability of fuel switch mechanisms in Boeing aircraft, prompting immediate action from aviation authorities and airlines.