Follow TNM's WhatsApp channel for news updates and story links.
After the preliminary probe into the Ahmedabad plane crash pointed to an abrupt fuel cutoff, Etihad Airways has ordered an inspection on fuel switches across its Boeing 787 fleet, reports The Hindu.
The order comes at a time when the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s 2018 advisory suggesting a fuel switch malfunction has resurfaced, stirring debates. The FAA is a US government agency that oversees and regulates civil aviation and the National Airspace System.
Etihad, the Abu Dhabi-based airways, has also reportedly issued a directive to the pilots to exercise caution while operating the fuel switches on the Boeing 787 aircraft. It further advised the pilots that no objects should be placed on the pedestal that would cause any inadvertent movement. The flight crew is also asked to report immediately if they find any irregularities.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB)’s probe into the Ahmedabad crash revealed that both engines shut down mid-air due to the sudden movement of the fuel switches.
The probe report also has a crucial mention of the FAA advisory from December 2018, which flagged a potential malfunction of fuel switches in some of the Boeing models. TNM studied this report, which mentioned the models, including 787-7, the one that crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12. The advisory had warned about the disengaged locking feature, which could cause movement of the fuel switch without physically lifting it.
The AAIB probe report had also stated that inspections were not carried out on the Air India aircraft, as the FAA advisory was not mandatory.
Meanwhile, reacting to the AAIB preliminary report, Air India Chief Executive Officer Campbell Wilson said that no mechanical or maintenance issues were found in the probe. In an internal memo reviewed by Reuters, he added that required maintenance had been carried out in the aircraft. He also urged everyone to avoid coming to premature conclusions, and the investigation is still going on.
The Air India flight AI171 that took off to London from Ahmedabad, crashed just after 34 seconds. The crash took the lives of 241 people on the flight and several more on the ground, as it fell into the BJ Medical College and the residential quarters of medical staff. Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, a British citizen, is the sole survivor of the crash.