FAA Issues Alert After Boeing 787 Crash Kills 260
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Continued Airworthiness Notification following the fatal crash of a Boeing 787-8 aircraft last month, which killed all 260 people on board. The July 11 notification comes in response to a preliminary investigation report that raised concerns over the aircraft’s engine fuel cutoff switches.
According to the FAA’s communication to global Civil Aviation Authorities, obtained by Reuters, the fuel control switch design — including its locking mechanism — is consistent across several Boeing models. However, the agency stated that it “does not consider this issue to be an unsafe condition that would warrant an Airworthiness Directive on any Boeing airplane models, including the Model 787.”
Boeing also referenced the FAA’s stance in a recent Multi-Operator Message sent to airlines, two sources familiar with the matter confirmed. The message indicated that the aircraft manufacturer is not recommending any immediate action. When contacted for comment, both the FAA and Boeing declined to elaborate beyond the existing notification.
The Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its preliminary findings last week, referencing a 2018 FAA safety advisory. The advisory, which was not mandatory, had recommended that airlines inspect the fuel switch locking feature on various Boeing aircraft, including the 787. According to the report, Air India — the airline involved in the crash — did not carry out the inspection, as the 2018 advisory was not compulsory.
FAA Issues Notification After Boeing 787 Crash Kills 260; Fuel Switch Design Under Scrutiny
The AAIB report confirmed that all mandatory airworthiness directives and service bulletins had been followed for both the aircraft and its engines.
Meanwhile, ALPA India, the pilot association affiliated with the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA), has rejected any early assumptions of pilot error. In a statement issued Saturday, the group called for a fair, fact-based investigation and requested to be included as observers in the ongoing probe.
ALPA India President Sam Thomas told Reuters on Sunday that the pilots’ association must be part of the investigation, emphasizing that the preliminary report suggests a possible equipment malfunction. A letter shared by ALPA India on X (formerly Twitter) cited the 2018 FAA advisory, highlighting the potential for unintended fuel switch activation.
Notably, the cockpit voice recorder revealed a brief exchange during the flight’s final moments: one pilot asked the other why the fuel was cut off. The second pilot reportedly responded, “I didn’t do it.” Investigators noted that both fuel switches flipped from “run” to “cutoff” almost simultaneously shortly after takeoff. However, the report did not clarify how the switches could have been moved during flight.
Two U.S. aviation safety experts have expressed support for ALPA India’s observer request, though they stated the report does not appear biased against the flight crew. John Cox, a veteran pilot and former ALPA representative, described the AAIB’s preliminary findings as “objective and fair.”
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