Air India has concluded thorough inspections of the fuel control switch (FCS) locking mechanism on all its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, following DGCA directives. The airline confirmed that no issues were detected during the checks.
The airline also stated that it has completed throttle control module (TCM) replacements for all 33 of its Boeing 787-8 aircraft, in line with Boeing’s maintenance protocols, as the FCS is part of this module.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had earlier instructed Indian carriers to carry out precautionary FCS checks on specific Boeing 737s and all 787 Dreamliners. Air India responded promptly, launching a proactive inspection over the weekend, and confirmed compliance with DGCA’s July 14 directive.
In a note to pilots, the airline urged continued vigilance, encouraging them to report any technical anomalies through standard logs and tools provided.
Meanwhile, controversy surrounds the AAIB’s preliminary report into the AI 171 crash, which suggests a suicide theory. Pilots have strongly rejected this hypothesis, deeming it premature and disrespectful. Citing a recent incident involving a Japanese airline’s Dreamliner, which experienced twin engine failure post-landing without pilot interference, pilots argue that FCS can malfunction independently, without manual input.
They have called for balanced investigations and cautioned against drawing conclusions without complete evidence, especially when the involved crew is no longer alive to respond.