The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said fuel control conversion in Boeing aircraft was safe as they reportedly involved in a fatal Indian crash that killed 260 people in June.
The safety of switches has become a key point after the focus Preliminary report Regarding the disaster, investigators released the disaster on Friday.
The report said that the fuel from the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner engine was cut off just a moment after taking off from Ahmedabad Airport, and highlighted past FAA reports suggesting that the switch should be checked for safety.
Disaster involving London Flight 171 In the past decade, one of the worst aviation incidents in the world.
According to a preliminary report released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Department (AAIB), fuel flow controlling fuel to the jet engine has shifted from “operation” to “off” position, hindering the aircraft’s thrust.
Investigators mentioned the 2018 FAA consulting firm, which urged — but did not force — that the operators of Boeing models checked the locking function of the fuel cutoff switch to ensure they were not moved by chance.
AAIB said in its early discovery that this step was not taken by Air India.
The FAA told civil aviation authorities on Friday that it had seen preliminary reports from the AAIB.
It noted that its own 2018 consultation was “a report based on fuel-controlled switch installation and disengagement of the locking feature” – but added that it does not think it would make the aircraft unsafe.
“While the fuel-controlled switch design, including locking, is similar on various Boeing aircraft models, the FAA does not consider the issue an unsafe condition and can issue applicability directives on any Boeing model including the 787 model,” said the authorities shared with the BBC.
“The FAA will continue to share relevant information with foreign civil aviation authorities.”
AAIB, review Recovered cockpit recordingsAccording to reports, one pilot can be heard during the flight asking another why he was cutting off the fuel.
“Another pilot replied that he did not do this,” the report said.
Investigators said that after takeoff, the fuel switch went from running to closing almost at the same time. The report does not say how the switch flips during flight.
Air India Flight 171 is scheduled to fly to Gatwick Airport in London in Ahmedabad, India.
The plane hit a medical school near the airport within a minute of takeoff, killing 260 people, mainly passengers. A British national survives The plane crash.
Investigators are expected to produce more detailed reports within 12 months.
