UK Regulator Flagged Boeing 787 Fuel Switches Weeks Before Air India Crash

UK Aviation Warning Preceded Air India Boeing 787 Crash

A safety notice issued by the UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) just four weeks before an Air India Boeing 787-8 crash has raised serious questions about aviation oversight. The directive, released on May 15, specifically flagged a potential unsafe condition with fuel control switches on several Boeing models, including the 787 Dreamliner involved in the incident.

Follow our WhatsApp Channel for the latest news, alerts & updates – Don’t miss out!

The CAA notice instructed airline operators to review a US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) directive and conduct daily checks on the fuel shutoff valve actuators. These components are critical for controlling fuel flow to the engines. The UK regulator mandated that these checks be documented, signaling an urgent need for operators to address the potential risk.

This warning gained critical importance following the Air India crash. The preliminary report from India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) found that the aircraft's fuel control switches moved to the "CUTOFF" position shortly after takeoff, causing both engines to shut down. The finding points to a cause directly related to the very components highlighted in the CAA's safety notice.

While the FAA and Boeing later stated the switch design posed no safety risk, the UK's directive had already mandated action at the operator level. Further investigation revealed that while Air India had replaced the aircraft's Throttle Control Module in 2019 and 2023, it had not performed an inspection of the switch's locking mechanism recommended in a 2018 FAA advisory. The airline noted the advisory was not mandatory.

The close timing between the specific safety warning and the subsequent crash has placed the incident under intense scrutiny. It highlights a potential gap in safety compliance and raises concerns about how airlines respond to advisories that are recommended but not legally required, leaving a critical system vulnerability unaddressed.