Etihad Airways has directed its pilots to “exercise caution” with fuel switches on the Boeing 787 aircraft, as reported recently. This directive coincided with the release of a preliminary probe into the June 12 Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, India, which revealed that both fuel switches flipped from ‘RUN’ to ‘CUTOFF’ shortly after takeoff.
South Korea Plans Similar Actions
Reports indicate that South Korea is also preparing a similar directive for its airlines operating Boeing aircraft. The country’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) plans to require all airlines that operate Boeing planes to examine their fuel control switches.
Etihad’s Investigative Measures
In addition to instructing pilots on cautious operation of the switches, Etihad Airways has initiated an investigation into the functionality of the fuel control switches. The airline stated that these measures are being taken:
“out of an abundance of caution.”
A bulletin from Etihad mandates inspections of the fuel control locking mechanism across its Boeing 787 fleet, providing engineers with a detailed guide to verify the proper engagement of this feature.
Safety Precautions and Reporting
Furthermore, Etihad has instructed pilots to avoid placing objects on the pedestal to prevent accidental movements of the fuel switches and has urged the crew onboard to report any unusual occurrences.
FAA Advisory Context
These precautions follow a notification from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Boeing stating that the fuel control switches on the Boeing 787 are not deemed unsafe. However, these mandates align with a 2018 FAA advisory recommending inspections of the locking feature of fuel switches, which was also cited in the recent Air India crash probe.
