Air India stated that the switch panel had already been confirmed as “fully functional,” but explained that the decision to conduct further testing in a controlled environment was taken as a precautionary measure to ensure a thorough and conclusive evaluation of the component. The airline said the objective of the tests was to definitively confirm the panel’s performance and structural integrity.
“The decision to proceed with further testing is intended to ensure a thorough and conclusive evaluation of the component, as a measure of abundant caution,” Air India said. “We fully support the process.”
The Ministry of Civil Aviation, under which the DGCA operates, did not officially confirm the reported visit to Boeing’s facility in Seattle. Sources in the ministry told NDTV that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) had been kept informed of all developments since the occurrence was first reported.
The renewed focus on the fuel control switch panel comes as investigators continue to prepare the final report into the crash of another Air India-operated Boeing 787 aircraft that went down seconds after take-off from Ahmedabad. The Gujarat tragedy claimed 260 lives, including 241 passengers and crew members on board and 19 people on the ground.
The fuel control switches, which regulate the flow of jet fuel to an aircraft’s engines, are specifically designed to remain locked in position unless deliberately moved by pilots. These switches have drawn intense scrutiny after a preliminary report into the Ahmedabad crash indicated that they had been turned off almost simultaneously.
During the February incident, pilots reported that the fuel control switches did not remain fixed in the “RUN” position while the engine was being started when light vertical pressure was applied. According to the DGCA, the switches stayed stable when the procedure was repeated for a third time.
British aviation authorities investigated the incident after the aircraft landed safely in Delhi. Boeing subsequently informed Air India that its internal assessment found the switches to be “serviceable.”
Despite this conclusion, the switch panel was sent to Boeing’s Seattle facility for additional testing. The outcome of this examination is expected to play an important role in resolving questions surrounding the performance of a critical cockpit component that has become central to one of India’s most closely watched aviation investigations.
About The Author
Comment List