India orders urgent fuel switch inspections on Boeing jets after deadly Air India crash

India’s aviation regulator has ordered all domestic airlines to inspect fuel control switches on Boeing aircraft by July 21, following their suspected role in the Air India Flight AI171 crash that killed 260 people in June.

The directive from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) follows a preliminary investigation that found the fuel to the engines of the London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner was cut off moments after takeoff. The switches had reportedly been moved from “run” to “cut-off,” leading to engine shutdown.

Although the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) maintains the switches are safe and points to a 2018 advisory recommending—but not requiring—inspections, India’s regulator is taking a stricter stance. The DGCA emphasised that “strict adherence to the timeline is essential to ensure continued airworthiness and safety of operations.”

Air India had not performed the FAA-advised inspections, as they were non-mandatory. That omission has come under renewed scrutiny after the cockpit voice recorder revealed one pilot questioning the engine shutdown while the other denied doing it.

In response, the Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association defended the crew, stating they acted according to protocol and should not be blamed prematurely.

The crash has triggered international reactions: South Korea is reportedly preparing similar inspection orders for its airlines operating Boeing jets.

The Air India disaster is one of the deadliest aviation incidents globally in nearly a decade and has intensified calls for more rigorous safety compliance across the industry.