Boeing, FAA Face Questions Over Ignored Advisory After India Tragedy

South Korea to Mandate Fuel Switch Checks on Boeing Aircraft Amid Air India Crash Probe

Airlines worldwide respond as preliminary crash report links issue to overlooked 2018 FAA advisory

South Korea Moves to Enforce Fuel Switch Inspections

South Korea is preparing to issue a mandatory directive to all domestic airlines operating Boeing jets, requiring them to inspect fuel switch locking mechanisms. This move follows the deadly crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8, which resulted in 260 fatalities last month.

• The fuel switch locks, a critical component in controlling engine power, are under scrutiny.
• The investigation refers to a 2018 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) advisory, which had recommended—but not mandated—inspections of the switches.

A South Korean transport ministry spokesperson confirmed that inspections will align with the FAA advisory, but did not provide a specific timeline for enforcement.

Air India Conducts Fleet-Wide Checks, Finds No Faults So Far

Following the fatal crash, Air India Group began inspecting the fuel switch locking systems across its Boeing 787 and 737 fleets over the weekend.

• A source familiar with the matter noted that no issues have been detected so far.
• As of now, half of the 787s and nearly all 737s have been reviewed, with full inspection expected to conclude within a couple of days.

The airline emphasized that the fuel switch issue was linked to routine maintenance replacements rather than overlooked faults. The throttle control module, which houses the fuel switches, had been replaced in 2019 and 2023 as part of a scheduled 24,000 flight-hour cycle—not specific to the crashed aircraft.

Japan Airlines and Boeing Respond to Developments

Japan Airlines (JAL) issued a statement reaffirming that passenger safety remains its top priority.

• The airline is monitoring the investigation closely and is prepared to implement any recommended actions based on official findings.

Boeing, when contacted, referred all inquiries to the FAA, which has yet to comment beyond regular hours.

FAA’s 2018 Advisory Was Only a Recommendation

At the heart of the controversy is a non-binding FAA advisory issued in 2018, which highlighted potential vulnerabilities in Boeing’s fuel switch locks across multiple aircraft models, including the 787.

• The advisory recommended inspections to ensure the cutoff switches couldn’t be accidentally triggered.
• However, due to its non-mandatory nature, many operators, including Air India, did not conduct the suggested checks.

An internal Air India memo from CEO Campbell Wilson advised staff not to jump to conclusions, emphasizing that the investigation is ongoing and the preliminary report is not definitive.

FAA and Boeing Privately Maintained Switches Were Safe

According to internal documents reviewed by Reuters, both Boeing and the FAA assured airlines and regulators that the fuel switch locks were safe and that no additional inspections were necessary.

This has raised new questions about whether earlier action could have prevented the crash, especially given that the fuel switches in the Air India flight moved to the cutoff position shortly after takeoff—an event the report calls “simultaneous and unexplained.”