DGCA asks airlines to check fuel switch locking system in Boeing 737, 787 jets

Aviation regulator DGCA on Monday (July 15, 2025) ordered airlines to inspect the lock on the fuel control switches on Boeing 787 and Boeing 737 planes by July 21, a move that comes days after the preliminary probe report into the Air India’s Boeing 787 crash found that the switches were cut off before the accident last month.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), back in 2018, had flagged the potential disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature on certain models of Boeing aircraft, including 787s and 737s. It was mentioned in a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) but there was no airworthiness directive, indicating that the issue was not a safety concern.

“It has come to the notice of DGCA, that several operators- internationally as well as domestic have initiated inspection on their aircraft fleet as per the SAIB NM-18-33 dated 17th December 2018. In the view of above all airline operators of the affected aircraft are hereby advised to complete the inspection required,” the DGCA said in an order.

Fuel control switches regulate the flow of fuel into aircraft engines.

A senior official didn’t immediately confirm which operators would be impacted. Air India operates Boeing 787 aircraft, and Air India Express and SpiceJet operate Boeing 737 aircraft.

Though IndiGo too has Boeing 787 aircraft, but since these are leased from a foreign airline they won’t be subjected to this order, one senior DGCA official explained.

In its preliminary report on the Boeing 787-8 crash released on Saturday, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) said 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 take off.

“In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cut off. The other pilot responded that he did not do the same,” the report said.

However, AAIB did not mention any recommended action.

Air India flight AI 171, operated with the Boeing 787-8, enroute to London Gatwick crashed soon after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12, killing 260 people.

(with PTI inputs)