**Boeing Fuel Control Switch Safety Confirmed Amid Air India Crash Investigation**

**The FAA reassures Boeing fuel switch safety following their link to a tragic crash, raising questions about oversight and operational standards.**

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has declared the fuel control switches on Boeing aircraft to be safe, following a harrowing incident involving an Air India flight that resulted in the deaths of 260 individuals this past June. The statement comes in light of a preliminary investigation report that identified these switches as a critical factor in the crash of Air India Flight 171, which tragically took place shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport.

According to the initial report released by the Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB), the crash occurred when fuel supply to the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner’s engines was abruptly halted right after departure. Investigators pointed out that the fuel control switches, responsible for regulating engine thrust, were mistakenly toggled from "run" to the "cut-off" position, significantly impairing the aircraft's ability to maintain altitude and power.

The catastrophic event has reignited discussions around the safety of the fuel control switches, particularly following revelations of a 2018 FAA advisory. This advisory recommended, though not mandated, that operators of Boeing aircraft should inspect the safety locking feature of fuel cut-off switches to prevent inadvertent movement. However, the AAIB’s preliminary findings indicated that Air India did not implement this recommendation.

In an internal communication shared with the BBC, the FAA acknowledged it had reviewed the AAIB's findings but maintained that the fuel control switch design was not unsafe. "Although the locking feature is similar across various Boeing models, we do not consider this issue alone to warrant an Airworthiness Directive for any Boeing airplane, including the 787 model," clarified the agency.

Moreover, the cockpit voice recordings from the flight revealed a troubling exchange between the pilots, where one questioned the other about the fuel cut-off. The circumstances surrounding how the switches were switched during the flight remain currently unexplained.

Air India Flight 171 was en route to London's Gatwick airport when it crashed into a medical facility shortly after takeoff, claiming the lives of nearly all passengers aboard, with the heartbreak of losing 240 individuals and 20 more on the ground. Only one survivor has been reported.

As the investigation progresses, a more comprehensive report is expected to be released in the coming year to shed light on the tragic incident and prevent future occurrences.