India Orders Boeing Aircraft Inspections After Deadly Air India Crash

India’s aviation regulator has directed look pp airlines to inspect specific Boeing aircraft following the deadly crash of an Air India flight in June that claimed 260 lives.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Monday ordered immediate checks of fuel control switches on Boeing 787 Dreamliners and certain Boeing 737 variants. The move comes after a preliminary investigation into the crash revealed both engines were starved of fuel when the switches were flipped to the cutoff position.

The ill-fated Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12, killing all but one of the 242 passengers and crew onboard, as well as 19 people on the ground.

According to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), cockpit voice recordings captured confusion between the pilots during the flight, with one reportedly asking the other why the fuel was cut off. “The other pilot responded that he did not do so,” the report stated. Investigators also referenced a 2018 U.S. Federal Aviation Administration advisory urging airlines to examine the locking mechanisms on fuel cutoff switches.

The DGCA has given airlines until next Monday to complete inspections and report their findings.

Air India CEO Campbell Wilson said there were no mechanical or maintenance faults with the aircraft. In a memo to staff, he confirmed that all required maintenance was up to date, fuel quality was verified, and the flight crew passed mandatory medical and alcohol tests before departure.

Meanwhile, Indian pilot unions have criticized media speculation around pilot error or suicide. The Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association described the claims as “reckless and unfounded,” urging the public to await a full investigation.

Air India has 33 Boeing 787s in its fleet. Authorities have ordered all of them to undergo thorough checks to prevent future tragedies.