FAA and Boeing say no action needed on 787 Dreamliner fuel switch design
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and aircraft maker Boeing have said that the fuel switch lock system on Boeing planes, including the 787 Dreamliner, is safe. According to a new internal notice, they found no reason to take further safety measures.
This follows a preliminary report by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) into the deadly crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8, which left 260 people dead. The report had raised concerns that faulty fuel switches may have played a role.
In a July 11 safety notice, the FAA told aviation bodies worldwide that the design of the fuel control switches does not pose any danger. Boeing backed this view in a message sent to airline operators, saying no changes or checks are currently needed.
The AAIB referred to a 2018 FAA safety alert that had suggested—but not ordered—airlines to check the locking system on similar fuel switches. Air India said it did not carry out the checks since they were optional, but the aircraft’s switch module had been replaced in 2019 and again in 2023.
Data from the cockpit voice recorder showed that just before the crash, one pilot asked why the fuel had been cut off. The second pilot denied flipping the switches. Both engine switches reportedly moved from “run” to “cutoff” right after takeoff, though it remains unclear how.
ALPA India, the country’s airline pilots’ association, has pushed back against any assumption of pilot error. It urged investigators to let pilot representatives observe the process for transparency.
“The pilots’ body must now be made part of the probe, at least as observers,”
— ALPA India President Sam Thomas
The group noted that the FAA’s earlier advisory already pointed out possible equipment faults that should not be ignored.
Two U.S. aviation experts also supported ALPA India’s request, though they agreed the AAIB’s current work appears fair and without bias.
John Cox, a veteran pilot and former U.S. ALPA official, told Reuters the Indian report was being handled professionally and objectively.
The AAIB is expected to release its final report after more review and discussions with all involved parties.
