On Tuesday, Air India announced that its initial inspections found no problems with the locking mechanism of the fuel control switches on certain Boeing aircraft.
This comes after a preliminary inquiry into a recent crash involving an Air India flight, where the switch malfunctioned, leading to a critical fuel cut-off for both engines.
Air India uses Boeing 787 Dreamliners for long-term routes, while its budget subsidiary, Air India Express, operates the Boeing 737 for shorter distances.
The airline conducted a thorough check of its entire fleet and stated, “The inspection revealed no issues with the aforementioned locking mechanism.”
The crash, which occurred during a flight to London on June 12, resulted in the loss of 260 lives in Ahmedabad, with only one survivor. The investigation, led by the Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Agency, is focusing on the fuel control switch of the Boeing 787.
Last week, Indian aviation authorities mandated that all airlines examine several Boeing models for similar fuel control switch issues, requiring findings to be reported to regulators by July 21.
Air India operates a total of 33 Dreamliners, while Air India Express has 75 Boeing 737 jets.
In recent weeks, airlines have encountered service disruptions due to heightened scrutiny and additional safety inspections, causing delays, cancellations, and heightened passenger anxiety.
On Monday, an Air India Airbus A320 skidded off the runway in heavy rains at Mumbai International Airport, slightly damaging part of its engine and temporarily shutting down the runway.
This flight had originated from Kochi in southern Kerala. Thankfully, all passengers and crew disembarked safely, and the aircraft is now undergoing inspections.
Moreover, on Tuesday, an Air India flight from Hong Kong experienced a fire linked to an auxiliary power unit, but passengers had exited safely after the landing in New Delhi.
The airline mentioned that “the auxiliary power units were automatically deactivated as per system design,” noting some damage to the aircraft, but confirmed all were safe, and the plane is under investigation by the Aviation Safety Regulatory Authority.
The Tata family, a major Indian conglomerate, took ownership of Air India in 2022, ending decades of government control over the heavily indebted airline.
This $2.4 billion transaction was viewed as a government move to transfer losses from state enterprises, marking a return of Air India to the Tata family, who originally established it in 1932.
Since the acquisition, Air India has placed orders for hundreds of new aircraft valued at over $70 billion, revamped its branding, and absorbed a smaller airline in which Tata holds shares. The company is also investing significantly in modernizing its aircraft and refurbishing its interiors.
