As the world awaits answers in the fatal Air India Boeing 787 crash, investigators have honed in on the aircraft’s engine fuel control switches as a key focus of the probe.
The investigation into the crash of Air India Flight 171 is zeroing in on the movement of the engine fuel control switches, according to The Air Current and The Seattle Times, which cited sources familiar with the probe. This focus follows analysis of data recovered from the Boeing 787’s flight data and cockpit voice recorders.
Investigators have not yet determined whether the actions involving the switches—intentional, accidental, or improper—played a role in the apparent loss of thrust before the aircraft went down, sources told the publication. The black box data has not confirmed or ruled out any possibility at this stage.
However, the 36 seconds between takeoff and the crash left little opportunity for the flight crew to unintentionally disengage the engine fuel control switches.
On the Boeing 787, these switches are protected by a metal stop-lock mechanism that must be intentionally lifted to change their position, and are further shielded by guarded brackets to prevent accidental activation.
A preliminary report is expected as early as Friday, roughly 30 days after the June 12 crash. However, sources warned that the timeline could shift, and it’s unclear how much detail the report will provide.
