'Fuel Switch Locks Are Safe': Boeing, US Regulator Push Back Amid Air India Plane Crash Probe

The fuel switch locks — now central to the June 12 Air India plane crash probe — on Boeing planes are safe, the aerospace company has said after a preliminary report into one of the deadliest aviation disasters in India. 

Boeing made the statement through a privately issued notification, endorsed by the US Federal Aviation Administration, as reported by Reuters, citing a related document and quoting four sources with knowledge of the matter. 

On July 11, the FAA issued the Continued Airworthiness Notification after the publication of the preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. 

The notification sent by FAA to Civil Aviation Authorities, stated: "although the fuel control switch design, including the locking feature, is similar on various Boeing airplane models, the FAA does not consider this issue to be an unsafe condition that would warrant an Airworthiness Directive on any Boeing airplane models, including the Model 787."

The FAA said it did not have anything to add beyond the notification. 

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