DGCA orders Airlines to inspect Fuel Switch Locking System on Boeing Planes; Know why

A technical flaw has been found in the fuel switch locking system of some aircraft, which can pose a security threat.

New Delhi: India's aviation monitoring body Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has instructed all airlines in the country to thoroughly check the fuel switch locking system in Boeing 787 and 737 aircraft. This investigation has to be completed by 21 July.

DGCA said that this step has been taken to ensure the safety of passengers. According to some international reports, a technical flaw has been found in the fuel switch locking system of these aircraft, which can pose a security threat.

Some foreign airlines like Emirates have already started security checks in their Boeing aircraft. Besides America's FAA has said that no serious technical threat has been seen so far, so there is no need to issue a mandatory order.

Switch Locking System

This system controls the supply of fuel to the aircraft's engine. If there is a problem in it, there can be a risk of engine shutdown or fuel supply stopping. Therefore, DGCA has taken it seriously. DGCA has asked all airlines to conduct technical checks of all the aircraft of their Boeing 787 and 737 fleet and submit the report. If a fault is found in any aircraft, it will have to be repaired immediately, till then that aircraft will not be able to fly.

Airlines To Investigate

In India, companies such as Air India, Air India Express, Akasa Air and SpiceJet are operating Boeing 737 and 787 aircraft, these companies will have to check the fuel switch locking system.

Fuel Switch And Ahmedabad Plane Crash Connection

AAIB, which is investigating the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, said in its preliminary report that both the engines of the Boeing Dreamliner aircraft that crashed stopped a few seconds after takeoff because the fuel supply had stopped.

The investigation of the black box of the Air India plane revealed that in the last moments of the flight, the cockpit voice recorder revealed that one pilot asked the other why he turned off the fuel switch? To this the other pilot replied that he did not do so. Investigation revealed that the fuel switches were turned to cutoff soon after takeoff, which stopped the supply of fuel to the engines of the plane.