DGCA Hits Inspection Altitude as Boeing’s Fuel Switches Face Scrutiny

India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), is preparing to issue a directive requiring all airlines operating Boeing 787 Dreamliners to inspect the fuel switch locking mechanisms. The move comes in the wake of the tragic crash of Air India Flight AI-171 near Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, which claimed over 265 lives, marking one of the worst aviation disasters in recent history.

 

What Sparked the Directive?

Preliminary investigations suggest that fuel switches may have been accidentally moved to the cutoff position, leading to a dual engine shutdown shortly after takeoff2.

 

The DGCA is acting on safety concerns raised globally, including earlier advisories from the FAA regarding the vulnerability of fuel control switches on Boeing aircraft1.

 

Scope of Inspections

Airlines will be required to conduct one-time pre-departure checks starting June 15, 2025, including:

Additional flight control inspections and power assurance tests must be completed within two weeks.

 

The directive applies to all Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft, especially those equipped with GEnx engines4.

 

Industry Response & Impact

Air India has already begun inspections and warned of potential long-haul delays as its fleet undergoes mandatory checks.

 

The DGCA has also flagged repetitive technical snags on Dreamliners over the past fortnight, prompting a broader review of maintenance logs5.

 

Sources: CNBC TV18, Economic Times, Hindustan Times, India TV, Fortune India