The fuel switch unit of crashed Air India Dreamliner was replaced twice in accordance with Boeing’s Maintenance Planning Document.
Air India replaced the Throttle Control Module (TCM)—a key cockpit component that includes the fuel control switches—twice on the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that crashed last month, killing all 260 people on board, according to a report by PTI, citing sources familiar with the investigation.
The Boeing 787‑8, registered VT-ANB and operating a scheduled flight from Delhi to London, had its TCM replaced first in 2019 and again in 2023, in accordance with Boeing’s Maintenance Planning Document (MPD), which mandates replacement every 24,000 flight hours.
The component’s history has come under scrutiny as Indian investigators probe whether the fuel control switches played any role in the crash. However, both Boeing and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have so far maintained that the design of the switches is safe and compliant with all regulatory standards.
Boeing had previously issued a 2019 directive calling for airlines to adhere to regular TCM replacement intervals. Despite this, investigators are closely analyzing the module’s function, its installation history, and whether any mechanical or human factors contributed to the crash.
Confusion in cockpit
According to cockpit voice recordings recovered from the crash site, the aircraft’s fuel control switches were moved to “CUTOFF” one after the other, just a second apart, right after takeoff.
The AAIB said both engines momentarily recovered after the switches were moved back to “RUN.” The plane failed to gain sufficient altitude and crashed within minutes.
