FAA and Boeing Reaffirm Safety of Fuel Cutoff Switches After Deadly Air India 787 Crash

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Boeing (NYSE: BA) have privately confirmed that fuel cutoff switch locks on Boeing aircraft remain safe, according to internal documents reviewed by Reuters. The announcement follows growing scrutiny after a fatal crash involving an Air India Boeing 787-8 in June, which killed all 260 passengers and crew.

In a Continued Airworthiness Notification dated July 11, the FAA informed global aviation authorities that while the locking mechanisms for engine fuel control switches are similar across various Boeing models, the agency does not classify the issue as an “unsafe condition.” Therefore, it does not warrant an airworthiness directive, the FAA stated.

Boeing echoed this assessment in a recent Multi-Operator Message to airline operators, emphasizing the safety of the design despite rising concerns.

The FAA and Boeing’s responses came after India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau released its preliminary findings, revealing that both engine fuel switches had flipped to “cutoff” shortly after takeoff. The 2018 FAA advisory referenced in the report recommended — but did not require — regular inspections of the switch locking mechanisms. Air India reportedly did not perform the checks since they weren’t mandatory.

Meanwhile, the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) India has strongly objected to early suggestions of pilot error and is demanding observer status in the ongoing investigation.

The incident has raised questions over adherence to safety recommendations and highlights the need for more robust checks, even when not mandated. While Boeing and the FAA maintain that no design flaw exists, regulators and airlines worldwide are likely to reassess voluntary safety protocols in light of the tragedy.