The US aviation regulator has insisted the type of fuel switch installed on the ill-fated Air India Boeing 787-8 was safe amid a growing row over who is to blame for the deadly crash.
A preliminary investigation into the Flight 171 disaster noted a US aviation regulator 2018 bulletin which recommended airlines inspect the fuel switch locking mechanism of Boeing planes.
The US FAA said its 2018 advisory "was based on reports that the fuel control switches were installed with the locking feature disengaged" but added this did not make the planes unsafe.
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said Air India did not do this at the time, while also suggesting human error might have been to blame for the crash which killed 260 people on 12 June.
It found that switches controlling fuel flow to the jet’s two engines had been moved from “run” to the “cut-off” position shortly after take off to London Gatwick.
The Indian Commercial Pilots' Association said the crew "acted in line with their training and responsibilities under challenging conditions and the pilots shouldn't be vilified based on conjecture".
Read More
Key Points
- US aviation regulator insists fuel switch locks on 787s are safe
- Pilots Association of India objects to suggestion pilots were to blame
- India orders airlines to check fuel switches on Boeing jets
- Air India crash investigation finds fuel switches cut off moments before impact
- Family member of four killed in Air India crash questions whether tragedy was avoidable
Recap: Air India CEO says pilots passed pre-flight breathalyser tests
15:30
,
Alexander Butler
Air India CEO Campbell Wilson has stated that both pilots aboard the ill-fated Boeing 787-8 flight that crashed last month passed all mandatory pre-flight medical checks, including breathalyser tests.
His remarks, made in an internal memo to staff, come as questions continue to swirl around the cause of the crash, which killed 260 people shortly after takeoff.
Both pilots passed the mandatory pre-flight breathalyser tests, and there were no observations pertaining to their medical status, he said.
The clarification comes amid growing scrutiny over the preliminary investigation, which revealed that both fuel cutoff switches were flipped shortly after takeoff, shutting down the aircraft’s engines.
The report stopped short of attributing blame, but cockpit voice recordings captured one pilot asking the other why the fuel had been cut -with the second replying that he had not done it.
India orders airlines to check fuel switches on Boeing jets
15:06
,
Alexander Butler
India on Monday ordered its airlines to examine fuel switches on several Boeing models, while South Korea said it would order a similar measure, as scrutiny intensified of fuel switch locks at the centre of an investigation into a deadly Air India crash.
The moves by India and South Korea came despite the planemaker and US Federal Aviation Administration telling airlines and regulators in recent days that the fuel switch locks on Boeing jets are safe.
The locks have come under scrutiny following last month's crash of an Air India jet, which killed 260 people. A preliminary report found that the switches had almost simultaneously flipped from run position to cutoff shortly after takeoff.
The report noted a 2018 advisory from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which recommended, but did not mandate, operators of several Boeing models including the 787 to inspect the locking feature of fuel cutoff switches to ensure they could not be moved accidentally.
India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation said it had issued an order to investigate locks on several Boeing models including 787s and 737s, after several Indian and international airlines began making their own inspections of fuel switches.
The regulator oversees the world's third-largest and fastest-growing aviation market and its move raises the stakes for Boeing, whose aircraft are used by three of the country's four largest airlines.
Air India CEO says pilots ‘passed’ tests as criticism mounts over probe report
14:56
,
Alexander Butler
Air India CEO says investigation into Ahmedabad crash raises new questions
14:40
,
Alexander Butler
A preliminary investigation into the crash of an Air India passenger jet last month that killed 260 people raises additional questions about the incident and the investigation is far from over, Air India's CEO said in a memo on Monday.
The preliminary investigation released by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on Saturday depicted confusion in the cockpit shortly before the crash of the Boeing Dreamliner.
In a staff memo reviewed by Reuters, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson said the report had "triggered a new round of speculation in the media ... Unsurprisingly, it provided both greater clarity and opened additional questions."
He added: "The preliminary report identified no cause nor made any recommendations, so I urge everyone to avoid drawing premature conclusions as the investigation is far from over."
What are fuel switches and why do they matter?
14:24
,
Arpan Rai
The fuel control switches, prominently located on the critical cockpit control panel, regulate the flow of fuel into each of the plane’s two engines.
Pilots flying the aircraft use fuel cutoff switches to start or shut down engines on the ground. In the event of an engine failure during a flight, the pilots can manually shut down or restart engines using these switches.
They are centrally located on the pedestal between the two pilot seats, positioned just behind the throttle levers.
These switches cannot be accidentally or gently moved by pilots operating a flight. The fuel cutoff switches are spring-loaded to remain firmly in place. They operate in two modes — “CUTOFF” and “RUN”. “Cutoff” stops the fuel supply to the engine, while “Run” allows fuel to flow.
Who were the pilots of doomed Air India flight as preliminary report brings scrutiny?
13:52
,
Alexander Butler
Simon Calder answers your air travel safety questions – from Boeing worries to the truth about budget airlines
13:42
,
Alexander Butler
Families of victims left questioning how the tragedy took place
13:32
,
Shweta Sharma
The findings have left some families of victims questioning how the tragedy took place, and if it was avoidable.
Badasab Syed, 59, who lost his brother, 49-year-old IT professional Inayat Syed, his sister-in-law, and their two children in the crash, said he has just been left with more questions.
He told the BBC: “The report mentions the pilots discussing who turned off fuel and a possible issue with the fuel control switch. We don’t know what that means? Was it avoidable?”
Ayushi Christian, who married Lawrence Christian in 2023 before migrating to the UK, said her husband was in India because he had been performing the last rites of his father. He was on the AI 171 flight to return home to the UK.
Following the release of an initial report into the incident, Ms Christian told the BBC: “It has been one month since the crash, but no action has been taken by the government so far. [The] preliminary investigation report has come out today. Action should be taken against those responsible for the incident.”
Air India CEO says pilots ‘passed’ tests as criticism mounts over probe report
13:00
The preliminary investigation report on last month's Air India crash found no mechanical or maintenance issue with the aircraft, the company's chief executive said.
In an internal memo, Campbell Wilson said the probe into the Boeing Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad, which killed 260 people, was "far from over". He added the pilots had “passed” all pre-flight checks amid allegations that the disaster was caused by human error.
The report found "no mechanical or maintenance issues with the aircraft or engines and that all mandatory maintenance tasks had been completed," Mr Wilson said.
Read our full report.
Who were the two pilots who flew the Air India jet that crashed?
12:30
,
Shweta Sharma
Investigators probing a deadly Air India crash said in a preliminary report that the aircraft's engine fuel switches were flipped to an off position briefly, leading to confusion in the cockpit and putting focus on the pilots flying the Boeing 787.
The two pilots of the doomed flight were Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and first officer Clive Kunder.
Captain Sumeet Sabharwal
The 56-year-old had an airline transport pilot's licence that was valid until May 14, 2026.
He had obtained clearances to fly as pilot-in-command on several aircraft including the Boeing 787 and 777 and the Airbus A310.
He had total flying experience of 15,638 hours, of which 8,596 hours were on a Boeing 787.
Sabharwal had called his family from the airport, assuring them he would ring again after landing in London, according to a Times of India report. A pilot who had briefly interacted with him told Reuters he was a "gentleman."
First officer Clive Kunder
The 32-year-old had a commercial pilot license which was issued in 2020 and valid until 26 September 2025.
He had obtained clearances to fly Cessna 172 and Piper PA-34 Seneca aircraft as pilot-in-command and as co-pilot on Airbus A320 and Boeing 787 jets.
He had total flying experience of 3,403 hours. Of that, 1,128 hours of experience were as a 787 co-pilot.
Since his school-going days Kunder was passionate about flying, and in 2012, began serving as a pilot, Indian media reported, citing his relatives. He joined Air India in 2017.
South Korea set to order airlines to check Boeing jet fuel switches
12:00
,
Shweta Sharma
South Korea is preparing to order all airlines in the country that operate Boeing jets to examine fuel switches in the focus of an investigation of a deadly Air India crash that killed 260 people.
Fuel switch locks have come under scrutiny after a mention of a 2018 advisory from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in a preliminary report into last month's crash of Air India's Boeing 787-8 jet.
A spokesperson for the South Korean transport ministry said the checks were in line with a 2018 advisory from the FAA, but did not give a timeline for inspections.
Boeing referred Reuters' questions to the FAA, which was not immediately available to comment outside regular hours.
In the Air India crash, the switches had almost simultaneously flipped from run position to cutoff just after takeoff, but the preliminary report did not say how they could have flipped to that position during flight.
The 2018 FAA advisory recommended, but did not mandate, operators of several Boeing models, including the 787, to inspect the locking feature of the fuel cutoff switches to ensure they could not be moved accidentally.
On Sunday, it was reported that the planemaker and the FAA had privately issued notifications to airlines and regulators that the fuel switch locks on Boeing planes were safe and checks were not required.
Not easy to ‘accidentally’ cut off fuel switches, expert says on Air India crash
11:30
,
Shweta Sharma
The fuel switches that were cut off before the Air India plane crash are the kind used on every flight, and designed so that this cannot easily "accidentally" happen, an aviation expert has said.
The fuel switches are used at the end of every flight and in emergency scenarios such as a fire, director of aerospace and aviation at Cranfield University, Professor Graham Braithwaite said, adding that pilots would generally run through a checklist before turning them off.
He said: "For obvious reasons, the two switches are a distance apart, so not a huge distance, but enough that you couldn't accidentally switch two when you're trying to switch one.
"So it's not like the lights in your house, where they're right next to each other, so there is some space between them.
"They're in that centre console, so that's in between the two pilots, so they can each reach them with the same ease."
Why the Air India crash report leaves devastated families with more questions
10:45
,
Shweta Sharma
Early findings of an investigation into the Air India crash last month have revealed the plane’s fuel switches were cut off after take-off, leaving victim’s families with more questions and seeking “justice and answers”.
The preliminary report from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), published on Friday, said both of the plane’s fuel switches were moved to the “cut-off” position “immediately” after take-off, stopping fuel supply to the engine.
It included a harrowing transcript of a cockpit conversation between the pilots, one asks the other why he cut-off, before the other responded to say he did not.
Experts have since said it is not easy to “accidentally” cut off fuel switches.
What did the Air India CEO say in internal memo?
10:00
,
Shweta Sharma
The probe into last month's crash of an Air India plane in Ahmedabad is far from over and it is unwise to jump to any premature conclusions, airline CEO Campbell Wilson said in an internal memo on Monday after the release of a preliminary report by investigators.
The memo, reviewed by Reuters, comes after the report depicted confusion in the cockpit shortly before the crash of the Boeing Dreamliner that killed 260 people. It said the plane's engine fuel cutoff switches flipped almost simultaneously and starved the engines of fuel.
"The release of the preliminary report marked the point at which we, along with the world, began receiving additional details about what took place. Unsurprisingly, it provided both greater clarity and opened additional questions." the memo said.
Mr Wilson added: "The preliminary report identified no cause nor made any recommendations, so I urge everyone to avoid drawing premature conclusions as the investigation is far from over."
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London from the Indian city of Ahmedabad began to lose thrust and sink shortly after takeoff, according to the report released by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
The memo said the preliminary report found no mechanical or maintenance faults and that all required maintenance had been carried out.
The preliminary report, released on Saturday, suggested no immediate action for Boeing or GE, whose engines were fitted on to the aircraft.
UK government pledges to review report into tragedy
09:30
,
Shweta Sharma
The UK government has said it will review India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s report into the tragedy.
On board the Air India flight bound for London Gatwick were 53 British nationals.
A Department for Transport spokesperson told the BBC: "This was a tragic accident, and our thoughts remain with the victims and their families.”
They continued: “The UK welcomes the publication of the Indian Authorities’ preliminary report, and will review this in detail and consider if any action is required.”
Watch: Air India flight ‘was doomed’ without sufficient power, explains Simon Calder
08:59
,
Shweta Sharma
Air India CEO says pilots passed pre-flight breathalyser tests
08:28
,
Shweta Sharma
Air India CEO Campbell Wilson has stated that both pilots aboard the ill-fated Boeing 787-8 flight that crashed last month passed all mandatory pre-flight medical checks, including breathalyser tests.
His remarks, made in an internal memo to staff, come as questions continue to swirl around the cause of the crash, which killed 260 people shortly after takeoff.
Both pilots passed the mandatory pre-flight breathalyser tests, and there were no observations pertaining to their medical status, he said.
The clarification comes amid growing scrutiny over the preliminary investigation, which revealed that both fuel cutoff switches were flipped shortly after takeoff, shutting down the aircraft’s engines.
The report stopped short of attributing blame, but cockpit voice recordings captured one pilot asking the other why the fuel had been cut -with the second replying that he had not done it.
Air India says crash investigation 'far from over' as scrutiny mounts
08:02
Air India CEO Campbell Wilson offered reassurances, saying preliminary investigation found no mechanical or maintenance faults with the aircraft.
“The Air India crash investigation is far from over,” Mr Wilson said, adding that the airline continues to cooperate fully with authorities, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters.
However, he cautioned against "premature conclusions".
He said both pilots passed the mandatory pre-flight breathalyser tests, and there were no observations about their medical status.
There was no issue with the quality of fuel or any abnormality in the aircraft’s take-off roll, he noted.
The preliminary investigation found no mechanical or maintenance faults with the aircraft or its GE engines.
He added that all Boeing 787s in Air India’s fleet were inspected within days of the crash, and were found fit for service.
The airline is continuing to perform all required checks and stands ready to carry out any new inspections recommended by authorities, he added.
South Korea preparing to order airlines to check fuel switches on Boeing jets
07:44
,
Shweta Sharma
South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) is preparing to order all South Korean airlines that operate Boeing aircraft to examine fuel switches in accordance with the FAA 2018 advisory, MOLIT's foreign media spokesperson said.
The spokesperson did not give a timeline for the checks.
The 2018 FAA advisory is a Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO) issued by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It provided non-mandatory guidance to airlines operating certain Boeing aircraft, including the Boeing 787, concerning the fuel control switch gates.
The FAA advisory recommended, but did not mandate, operators of several Boeing models, including the 787, to inspect the locking feature of the fuel cutoff switches to ensure they could not be moved accidentally.
It comes as the recent report in the Air India Boeing 787 crash found that fuel switches were flipped to "CUTOFF" just after takeoff.
The AirIndia preliminary report said the airline had not carried out the FAA's suggested inspections as the FAA's 2018 advisory was not a mandate.
But it also said maintenance records showed that the throttle control module, which includes the fuel switches, was replaced in 2019 and 2023 on the plane involved in the crash.
Experts question pilot error theory in Air India crash
07:27
,
Shweta Sharma
Aviation experts have cast doubt on the theory that pilot error led to the fatal Air India Boeing 787-8 crash, saying it is highly unlikely a pilot could accidentally flip the aircraft's fuel switches during flight.
U.S. aviation safety expert Anthony Brickhouse questioned the logic behind the report’s suggestion. “If they were moved because of a pilot, why?” he asked, pointing out that such an action would defy standard cockpit procedure.
According to fellow US expert John Nance, the switches flipped roughly a second apart, just enough time to manually move one and then the other.
However, he added that pilots are trained never to turn off fuel switches mid-flight, particularly during takeoff or ascent.
"Flipping to cutoff would immediately shut down the engines," Mr Nance said, adding that such a step is typically only used at the gate after landing or in emergencies like engine fires.
Lawyer of crash victims' families says findings 'deeply concerning'
06:54
,
Shweta Sharma
Demetrius Danas, an aviation lawyer at Irwin Mitchell who is advising some of the victims’ families, described the findings of the report as “deeply concerning".
“We’re continuing to speak with and advise families who’ve been affected by the Air India crash,” he said. “Understandably, all they want is to be provided with answers.”
Some 169 Indian passengers and 52 British nationals were killed in the 12 June crash, making it one of the deadliest plane crashes in terms of the number of British fatalities.
A total of 260 people were killed after the London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed into a medical college shortly after taking off from the Ahmedabad airport in western India.
Families of crash victims say they are 'not satisfied' with report
06:31
,
Shweta Sharma
Families of the victims of the Air India crash have said they are “not satisfied” with the report released by the investigating authorities that found the plane's fuel switches were cut off.
The preliminary report from India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, published on Friday, said both of the plane's fuel switches moved to the "cut-off" position "immediately" after take-off, stopping fuel supply to the engine."
In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cut-off. The other pilot responded that he did not do so," the report reads.
In a statement, relatives of Akeel Nanabawa, his wife Hannaa Vorajee and their four-year-old daughter Sara Nanabawa, who died in the crash, described the report as "the first stepping stone" and said the family are still "working our way through the weight of our loss.
"They added: "Moving forwards, we require honesty, transparency, and an unwavering commitment to uncovering the full truth."We seek justice and answers, both of which are essential for us to find any sense of closure."We accept God's fate, but knowing what happened will help ease our hearts and allow us to begin the long journey of healing.
"Above all, we hope that by pursuing the truth, no other family will ever have to endure the shock, uncertainty, and profound sorrow that we have lived through this past month."
The cousin of sisters Dhir and Heer Baxi, who were flying home to London after surprising their grandmother for her birthday and died in the crash, said he was "not satisfied" by the report.
Speaking to the PA news agency, Ishan Baxi, who lives in Ahmedabad, said: "We're still hoping for a more transparent and honest investigation that doesn't shy away from addressing possible mechanical flaws or lapses in protocol to avoid future potential accidents."
He added: "I just hope the final report brings full clarity on what exactly failed and who's accountable."It shouldn't hide behind vague terms."More than anything, it should push for real changes so this never happens again."
What are fuel switches and why do they matter in the Air India crash?
06:20
,
Shweta Sharma
The first clues from the investigation into the London Gatwick-bound Air India plane that crashed in India’s Ahmedabad last month, killing 260 people, reveal that the aircraft’s engine fuel cutoff switches shut off the fuel supply to the engines almost simultaneously, causing confusion among the pilots.
New clues into the plane crash reveal that the fuel switches flipped almost simultaneously from “run” to “cutoff” just after takeoff. The preliminary report does not explain how the switches could have moved to the “cutoff” position during the flight.
The fuel control switches, prominently located on the critical cockpit control panel, regulate the flow of fuel into each of the plane’s two engines.
Pilots flying the aircraft use fuel cutoff switches to start or shut down engines on the ground. In the event of an engine failure during a flight, the pilots can manually shut down or restart engines using these switches.
They are centrally located on the pedestal between the two pilot seats, positioned just behind the throttle levers.
India’s pilots' body reject pilot error claim and demand observer role
05:56
,
Shweta Sharma
India’s leading pilots' body, ALPA India, has strongly rejected any presumption of pilot error in last month’s fatal Air India crash that claimed 260 lives.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the association called for a “fair, fact-based inquiry” and urged that it be included in the investigation as an observer.
“The pilots’ body must now be made part of the probe, at least as observers,” ALPA India President Sam Thomas told Reuters on Sunday.
The call comes amid scrutiny of the preliminary investigation report, which highlighted the sudden cutoff of fuel to both engines shortly after takeoff.
The report cited cockpit voice recordings in which one pilot asked the other why he had shut off the fuel, only to be told he had not.
The fuel switches had flipped from “run” to “cutoff” almost simultaneously, though the report did not explain how this could have occurred mid-flight.
FAA, Boeing say fuel switch locks on 787s are safe
05:23
,
Shweta Sharma
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Boeing have privately notified airlines and regulators that fuel switch locks on Boeing aircraft are safe, despite concerns raised in a preliminary report into last month’s Air India crash that killed 260 people.
In a Continued Airworthiness Notification issued on 11 July, the FAA said it did not consider the issue an unsafe condition warranting further directives. Boeing echoed the FAA’s stance in a recent message to operators, stating no further action was needed.
The notification said "although the fuel control switch design, including the locking feature, is similar on various Boeing airplane models, the FAA 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."
India’s investigation had cited a 2018 FAA advisory about fuel switch locking mechanisms.
However, both the FAA and Boeing maintain there is no fault in the design.
Indian pilots’ union ALPA India has urged authorities to include it as an observer in the ongoing probe.
Air India fully cooperating with authorities investigating the crash
03:00
,
Alex Ross
AirIndia, in a statement, said it is fully cooperating with authorities investigating the crash.
"AirIndia is working closely with stakeholders, including regulators. We continue to fully cooperate with the AAIB and other authorities as their investigation progresses," it said.
The plane's black boxes — combined cockpit voice recorders and flight data recorders — were recovered in the days following the crash and later downloaded in India.
Indian authorities had also ordered deeper checks of AirIndia's entire Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet to prevent future incidents. AirIndia has 33 Dreamliners in its fleet.
Cutoff of fuel switches 'absolutely bizarre'
01:30
,
Alex Ross
Aviation expert and former airline pilot Terry Tozer said the engine cut-off switches being switched to off only seconds after takeoff was "absolutely bizarre."
The movement of the fuel control switches allows and cuts fuel flow to the plane's engines.
"Unfortunately, the altitude was so low that the engines were only beginning to recover and they didn't have enough time," Tozer told Sky News.
No safety concerns with fuel switch locks, says US Federal Aviation Administration
Monday 14 July 2025 00:25
,
Alex Ross
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Boeing have privately issued notifications that the fuel switch locks on Boeing planes are safe, a document seen by Reuters showed and four sources with knowledge of the matter said.
A preliminary report into the Air India crash said that the fuel switch to the engines had been cut-off after take-off.
The FAA's message to Civil Aviation Authorities said: "Although the fuel control switch design, including the locking feature, is similar on various Boeing airplane models, the FAA 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 referred to the FAA notification in a Multi-Operator-Message sent to the airlines in the past few days, which said it is not recommending any action, two of the sources with direct knowledge said.
Pictured: Grieving family after Air India plane crash
Sunday 13 July 2025 22:00
,
Rebecca Whittaker
UK government pledges to review report into tragedy
Sunday 13 July 2025 21:00
,
Rebecca Whittaker
The UK government has said it will review India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s report into the tragedy.
On board the Air India flight bound for London Gatwick were 53 British nationals.
A Department for Transport spokesperson told the BBC: "This was a tragic accident, and our thoughts remain with the victims and their families.”
They continued: “The UK welcomes the publication of the Indian Authorities’ preliminary report, and will review this in detail and consider if any action is required.”
Not easy to ‘accidentally’ cut off fuel switches, expert says on Air India crash
Sunday 13 July 2025 20:00
,
Rebecca Whittaker
The fuel switches that were cut off before the Air India plane crash are the kind used on every flight, and designed so that this cannot easily "accidentally" happen, an aviation expert has said.
The fuel switches are used at the end of every flight and in emergency scenarios such as a fire, director of aerospace and aviation at Cranfield University, Professor Graham Braithwaite said, adding that pilots would generally run through a checklist before turning them off.
He said: "For obvious reasons, the two switches are a distance apart, so not a huge distance, but enough that you couldn't accidentally switch two when you're trying to switch one.
"So it's not like the lights in your house, where they're right next to each other, so there is some space between them.
"They're in that centre console, so that's in between the two pilots, so they can each reach them with the same ease."
Watch: Mourners line streets at funeral of Air India pilot Sumit Sabharwal
Sunday 13 July 2025 19:30
,
Rebecca Whittaker
Families of victims left questioning how the tragedy took place
Sunday 13 July 2025 19:00
,
Rebecca Whittaker
The findings have left some families of victims questioning how the tragedy took place, and if it was avoidable.
Badasab Syed, 59, who lost his brother, 49-year-old IT professional Inayat Syed, his sister-in-law, and their two children in the crash, said he has just been left with more questions.
He told the BBC: “The report mentions the pilots discussing who turned off fuel and a possible issue with the fuel control switch. We don’t know what that means? Was it avoidable?”
Wife of Air India crash victim calls for justice to be served for those who lost lives in tragedy
Sunday 13 July 2025 18:30
,
Rebecca Whittaker
The wife of one of the Air India crash victims has called for justice to be served, for those who lost their lives in the tragedy.
Ayushi Christian, who married Lawrence Christian in 2023 before migrating to the UK, said her husband was in India because he had been performing the last rites of his father. He was on the AI 171 flight to return home to the UK.
Following the release of an initial report into the incident, Ms Christian told the BBC: “It has been one month since the crash, but no action has been taken by the government so far. [The] preliminary investigation report has come out today. Action should be taken against those responsible for the incident.”
Watch: Air India flight ‘was doomed’ without sufficient power, explains Simon Calder
Sunday 13 July 2025 18:00
,
Rebecca Whittaker
'Fuel switch locks on Boeing planes are safe', says Aviation Administration
Sunday 13 July 2025 17:30
,
Rebecca Whittaker
The US Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing have privately issued notifications that the fuel switch locks on Boeing planes are safe, a document seen by Reuters revealed.
The FAA's notification to Civil Aviation Authorities said: "Although the fuel control switch design, including the locking feature, is similar on various Boeing airplane models, the FAA 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."
