The FAA stated regarding the Ahmedabad Air India accident that there was no technical fault in the Fuel Control Unit. Following the central government's order, all Boeing aircraft were inspected, but no indications of any malfunction were found.
Air India FAA Report: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States has provided important information regarding the Air India aircraft accident in Ahmedabad. According to the FAA, the cause of this accident was not a mechanical fault in the fuel control unit or the switch. FAA Administrator Brian Bedford stated that the fuel control units were tested and no technical problems of any kind were found.
How the Investigation Was Conducted
Brian Bedford stated that FAA technical staff removed the fuel control units from the aircraft and conducted intensive testing on them. No indication of any malfunction was found during the inspection. The FAA clarified that no mechanical defect has been found in the investigation so far.
Largest Technical Clearance To Date
This statement issued by the FAA is considered quite significant given the seriousness of the accident in Ahmedabad. Earlier, it was believed that the accident may have been caused by a technical malfunction or a fault in the fuel switch. But now the FAA has rejected this possibility.
Boeing and Air India's Response Still Pending
Despite this statement, there has been no official response from Boeing and Air India on this matter so far. A response is awaited from both companies. It remains to be seen what stance they take on this conclusion of the FAA.
Air India Conducted Inspection of Its Aircraft
Following the directive from the central government, Air India inspected the fuel control switch locking systems of all its Boeing 787 and 737 aircraft. The company stated that no technical fault was found during the inspection of all units. This inspection was conducted as a precaution to avoid any potential future hazards.
AAIB's Preliminary Report
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India had already released a preliminary report on this matter. That report stated that as the aircraft was taking off from the runway, the switches of both engines simultaneously went from RUN to CUTOFF, which reduced the engine power. This event caused the accident.
Background of the Investigation and Global Monitoring
After the accident, the FAA and the relevant Indian investigative agencies took this matter very seriously. The FAA and Boeing had already conducted some private investigations at the beginning of July and stated that the fuel switch locking mechanisms were safe. After this, the FAA publicly clarified that there was no technical fault.
Questions Were Raised Regarding the Safety of Boeing Aircraft
Questions had also started to arise regarding the safety of Boeing aircraft after this accident. Boeing 737 and 787 aircraft are used extensively around the world. After the FAA's investigation report, the apprehension that there is an inherent technical problem in these models has now largely been removed.
