Aviation regulator directs all airlines to inspect Boeing fuel switches by July 21

India's civil aviation regulator has issued a mandatory directive to all airlines, requiring them to complete a crucial inspection of the fuel switch locking system in their Boeing aircraft by July 21. This urgent order also encompasses other essential airworthiness inspections across their entire fleets. The directive comes with a tight deadline, emphasizing the critical nature of these checks.

The impetus for this swift action is the specific mention of fuel switches in the preliminary investigation report concerning the June 12 Air India crash in Ahmedabad. While the report did not assign blame, its findings highlighted that the aircraft's engine fuel switches had been turned off shortly after takeoff, leading to a loss of thrust and the subsequent fatal accident that claimed 260 lives.

The regulator's move underscores a heightened focus on operational safety and aims to prevent any potential recurrence of such incidents. Airlines are now obligated to ensure that the locking mechanisms of these vital fuel switches are thoroughly examined and any discrepancies addressed, reinforcing the commitment to passenger safety across the nation's aviation sector.