DGCA Orders Fuel Control Switch Inspections Compliances
Debris of Air India Flight crash in Ahmedabad! (Image X.com)
Regulator warns of safety risks linked to Boeing aircraft amid probe into Ahmedabad crash
By KUMAR VIKRAM
NEW DELHI, July 14, 2025 — The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has directed all Indian airline operators to urgently complete inspections on certain Boeing aircraft models, following concerns linked to the fuel control switch locking mechanism, which is under scrutiny after the recent Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad.
In an order issued on Monday, the DGCA mandated compliance with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) NM-18-33, first published in December 2018, citing the potential for disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature. The bulletin affects a wide range of Boeing aircraft, including 717, 737, 747, 757, 767, 777, 787 series aircraft, and MD series jets — many of which are in active service with Indian carriers.
The order warns that strict adherence to the inspection timeline is essential to ensure continued airworthiness and safety of operations. All inspections must be completed by July 21, 2025, with reports submitted to the DGCA and concerned regional offices.
Ahmedabad Crash Triggers Alarm
The directive comes in the wake of a fatal Air India crash in Ahmedabad last month. The preliminary investigation report was submitted to the Civil Aviation Ministry last week.
Investigators probing the crash have not ruled out fuel control switch malfunction as a potential cause. The Ahmedabad incident has re-energized scrutiny on older safety bulletins. The DGCA is seeking strict enforcement of guidelines.
DGCA Raises Compliance Standards
The DGCA has instructed operators to submit inspection plans and post-inspection reports under intimation to the concerned Regional Office. The order, signed by R B Jamir, Director of Airworthiness, stresses that compliance is mandatory for all aircraft registered in India falling under the affected models.
The regulator clarified that while Airworthiness Directives (ADs) are already mandatory under Indian regulations, this SAIB and accompanying inspections have now been elevated in priority due to recent developments. The implementation will be guided by CAR M–M.A. 301, Issue 2, and other DGCA protocols for aircraft maintenance and safety compliance.
With the deadline just a week away, airlines are now under pressure to mobilize maintenance teams and coordinate with manufacturers and vendors to ensure swift compliance.
As investigations into the Air India crash continue, aviation safety experts believe the incident could reshape regulatory oversight on aging aircraft systems and international harmonization of technical bulletins.
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