Ahmedabad, Gujarat – July 16, 2025 – In a significant move aimed at bolstering aviation safety, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has mandated immediate inspections of engine fuel switches across a wide range of India-registered Boeing aircraft. This directive, issued on Monday, July 14, comes in the wake of preliminary findings from the investigation into the tragic Air India Flight 171 crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, which indicated a potential role of fuel control switches in the incident.
The DGCA’s order specifically targets various Boeing models, including the B737s and the B787 Dreamliner, which are operated by major Indian carriers such as Air India Group, IndiGo, and SpiceJet. Airlines have been given a strict deadline of July 21, 2025, to complete these inspections and submit their reports to the DGCA.
The preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) into the AI-171 crash, which resulted in 260 fatalities, highlighted that both engine fuel control switches on the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner were found in the “CUTOFF” position shortly after takeoff, leading to a dual engine shutdown.
This urgent directive from the DGCA also references a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) issued by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) back in December 2018. This advisory had flagged the potential for disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature on certain Boeing models. While this FAA advisory was non-mandatory at the time, its relevance has now come into sharp focus following the recent accident.
“It has come to the notice of DGCA, that several operators – internationally as well as domestic – have initiated inspection on their aircraft fleet as per the SAIB NM-18-33 dated 17th December 2018,” the DGCA order stated. “In view of the above, all airline operators of the affected aircraft are hereby advised to complete the inspection… no later than 21st July 2025. Strict adherence to the timeline is essential to ensure continued airworthiness and safety of operations.”
Airline sources indicate that some carriers, including Air India, have already commenced these inspections, with a portion of their Boeing fleets having undergone checks on the fuel switch locking mechanism. This proactive measure by the DGCA underscores the regulator’s commitment to prioritizing passenger safety and ensuring the highest standards of airworthiness across the Indian aviation sector. The outcome of these inspections will be crucial in further understanding the complexities surrounding the recent crash and in implementing necessary long-term safety enhancements.
