Air India Finds No Fault in Fuel Switch After Ahmedabad Crash Killing 261

Following the tragic crash of Air India flight AI-171 near Ahmedabad in June 2025, which resulted in 260 fatalities including 19 on the ground, Air India has conducted comprehensive inspections of its Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Boeing 737 aircraft. The inspections focused on the locking mechanism of fuel control switches, a suspected cause of the crash per preliminary reports, but no malfunctions were found across the fleet. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had mandated all airlines operating these Boeing models to examine and report on these fuel switches by July 21, leading to increased scrutiny and operational disruptions for Air India. The crash also triggered a minor increase in sick leaves reported by Air India pilots across all fleets, with 112 pilots calling in sick on June 16, as part of broader mental health monitoring initiatives including peer support programs for flight crew. While preliminary investigations suggested the fuel switch may have been turned off before the accident, Air India has emphasized that all fuel switches and related systems are fully functional, reaffirming its commitment to passenger safety. Concurrently, the airline has faced further operational challenges, including an incident where an Air India Airbus 320 veered off a runway at Mumbai airport during heavy rain, though without injuries to passengers or crew.