US Flagged Fuel Switch Issue in 2018, Air India Told Probe Team: ‘It Was Not Mandatory’

US Flagged Fuel Switch Issue in 2018, Air India Told Probe Team: Fuel control valves which formed a central part in the investigation of the Air India air crash in Ahmedabad on June 12 were perceived as a probable problem by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) seven years back in Boeing airliners.

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Air India informed the probe team that it acted upon the recommended inspections since they were guidelines and not requirements.

According to preliminary report published on Saturday, the maintenance record of the particular plane model, the VT-ANB, showed no blemishes since 2023. All necessary checkups were up-to-date, and airworthiness certificates were valid with regard to the aircraft, according to the report.

What US FAA labeled in Boeing aircrafts

When it comes to the specific problem, the following is how it pans out:

• In 2018, the US FAA published Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB), NM18-33, regarding the possibility of issues of the fuel control switch locking mechanisms on Boeing airplanes.
• This was followed by a bulletin that on some of the Boeing 737s these switches were mounted with their locking mechanisms in the unlocked condition.
• These locking are provided to avoid unintended or accidental moving of the switches. The switches have the potential of being moved even with vibration, inadvertent touch, and more when the lock is disengaged.
• This was not deemed of serious importance, and the FAA did not to make it an advisory directive, but the bulletin also stated inspections under advisory instructions.

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How was fuel starved?

The investigation of the cause of the Air India flight AI171 crash, at an initial stage stated that, immediately before the plane crashed near the airport one of the pilots inquired the other one why he had switched off fuel supply to the engines, but the latter reported denying to do such a thing. There is still an investigation to be done whether fuel was stopped; and in case it was, whether it is human touch or mechanical or system failure.

Throttle control module The airline changed this aircraft throttle control module two times - in 2019 and 2023, but neither of the changes was connected with fuel switches.

It needs to be said, - as the civil aviation minister, too, was mentioning - that it is a rather first glance report, and its findings might change with collection of more evidence.

#WATCH || Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu (@RamMNK) responds to the #AAIBReport on last month’s Air India crash, stating it is based on preliminary findings. He urges the public to avoid conclusions until the final report is released.#AirIndiaCrash… pic.twitter.com/7MW95CH6GB

— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) July 12, 2025

On June 12, in what will be remembered as the deadliest world aviation disaster in a decade, Boeing 787 Dreamliner which was on its way to London crashed in Ahmedabad. The two engine plane power goes off within one second of each other soon after the plane had taken off. The investigators have dismissed the possibility of a bird strike or any outside damage but the reason behind the fuel cutoff is under investigation.

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