Crashed Air India Jet Had Key Fuel Module Replaced Twice – 2019 and 2023
New details from the investigation into last month's fatal Air India crash reveal that a critical cockpit component housing the fuel control switches had been replaced twice on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. This information comes to light as Indian investigators examine the role of these switches in the accident, while Boeing and U.S. regulators maintain the design is safe.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) noted in its preliminary report that the Throttle Control Module (TCM) on the aircraft was replaced in both 2019 and 2023. This module is a crucial piece of equipment that includes the fuel control switches, which investigators believe unexpectedly moved to the "CUTOFF" position moments after takeoff from Ahmedabad, leading to a dual-engine failure and the subsequent crash that killed 260 people.
According to the report, these replacements were performed as part of scheduled maintenance, in line with a Boeing directive that requires the unit to be changed every 24,000 flight hours. The AAIB clarified that the replacements were not linked to any previously known defect with the fuel switches themselves.
Despite the focus on the switches, both the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Boeing have asserted that the design does not present an unsafe condition. In a notification issued on July 11, the FAA stated that a formal Airworthiness Directive, which would mandate design changes, was not necessary at this time.
The revelation that the module was replaced as per protocol, yet still appears to be at the center of a catastrophic failure, creates a difficult puzzle for investigators working to determine the root cause of the tragedy.
