Indian airlines to inspect Boeing fuel shut-off valves following Air India crash

India orders its airlines to inspect Boeing fuel shut-off valves following the Air India crash. South Korea says it will also take similar action. The measures come despite Boeing and the US FAA stating that the valves are reliable. The investigation into the fatal Air India crash has focused on the valves, which reportedly switched off the fuel supply suddenly after takeoff.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has mandated a comprehensive inspection of fuel shut-off valves on all Boeing aircraft registered in India, following the June 12 Air India crash in Ahmedabad. This directive comes in response to the preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which revealed that both engines of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner shut down within seconds of take-off, leading to the crash that killed 260 people.

The DGCA has directed all airline operators to complete the inspection of the fuel shut-off valves by July 21, 2025. This order specifically targets Boeing 737 and 787 models, including the 787-8/9/10 series, citing a potential disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature. This directive is based on a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB No. NM-18-33) issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on December 17, 2018, which warned about the same risk [1].

The crash investigation has focused on the valves, which reportedly switched off the fuel supply suddenly after takeoff. The AAIB's preliminary report indicated that Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF within one second of each other, resulting in the engines losing thrust and failing to stabilize despite a momentary recovery [1]. The aircraft reached a maximum speed of 180 knots indicated airspeed (IAS) at 08:08:42 UTC just before both engine fuel cutoff switches moved from "run" to "cutoff," effectively shutting down both engines in-flight [1].

South Korea, which is also under scrutiny for its aviation safety measures, has indicated that it will take similar action. South Korea's Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo stated that Seoul’s goal is to avoid "unfair" tariffs on key industries critical to its industrial strength. He added that tariffs could undermine industrial cooperation with the United States, a key security ally and trading partner [2].

Despite these measures, Boeing and the US FAA maintain that the fuel shut-off valves are reliable. Boeing recently reiterated its position in a Multi-Operator Message sent to 787 operators worldwide, recommending no immediate action [1].

The investigation into the fatal Air India crash has drawn attention to long-standing warnings. In 2018, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had issued a safety notice urging urgent checks on fuel shutoff valves in Boeing aircraft, including the 787 Dreamliner [3]. The notice stressed the importance of ensuring compliance through either engineering teams or flight crews and mandated updates to flight operations manuals.

The DGCA's directive comes amidst scrutiny over the fuel control system's design. However, the AAIB report clarified that the replacements were not linked to any known defect in the fuel switches. The probe comes amid scrutiny over the fuel control system's design, though both the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Boeing maintain it is safe [1].

References:
[1] https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/indias-aviation-watchdog-orders-fuel-switch-checks-on-boeing-planes-covered-under-2018-us-advisory-by-july-21-2755624-2025-07-14
[2] https://mexicobusiness.news/trade-and-investment/news/european-union-south-korea-rush-trade-talks-ahead-us-tariffs?tag=japan
[3] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/air-india-crash-boeing-fuel-switch-under-scrutiny-was-a-safety-alert-issued-weeks-before-by-uk-caa/articleshow/122485942.cms