NEW DELHI: In a move that potentially points to a flaw in the Boeing planes being used by its private operators, India’s aviation authority asked domestic airlines on Monday to inspect their fuel control switches, a factor in the recent crash of Air India-run Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.

The Hindu said that aviation regulator DGCA ordered airlines to inspect the lock on the fuel control switches on Boeing 787 and Boeing 737 planes by July 21. The move comes days after the preliminary probe report into the Air India’s 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, The Hindu said.

“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 because these are leased from a foreign airline they won’t be subjected to this order, one senior DGCA official explained.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2025