FAA Interim Report Finds No Safety Concerns with Air India Boeing 787-8 Crash

Quick Summary

• Incident: The crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft on June 12 was caused by the fuel switches transitioning to the ‘CUTOFF’ position three seconds after takeoff, leading to engine thrust loss and shutdown.
• Preliminary Findings:

– No urgent safety concerns were found with the aircraft or its engines, according to investigations by the FAA and India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
– AAIB identified that Air India did not implement FAA’s december 2018 advisory recommending inspection and replacement of certain types of fuel control switches.

• FAA & Regulations:

– The FAA previously issued an advisory highlighting a non-mandatory potential issue with fuel switch locks but has chosen not to provide new guidance.
– Regulatory distinction noted between advisories (non-mandatory) and directives (mandatory).

• Technical Details: Boeing’s fuel switches require a two-step action for activation. These systems are intended to prevent accidental deactivation during operations.
• Global Fleet Data:

– Worldwide, there are over 1,189 Boeing 787s in service across various airlines including Air India.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The findings outlined in this preliminary investigation highlight potential gaps in adhering to international aviation advisories. While no defects specific to this airplane model have been identified as contributing factors under unsafe conditions, regulatory reliance on voluntary compliance raises questions about operational risk management within Indian aviation.

Air India’s decision not to implement recommended updates reflects broader challenges in balancing cost considerations against adherence even when advisories remain non-mandatory. For policymakers and industry stakeholders in India, this incident may signal the need for more rigorous oversight frameworks or alignment with best practices set forth globally by agencies like the FAA.

While passengers should be reassured by findings affirming overall safety design robustness of the Boeing fleet incidents .