Investigators found no abnormality in the fuel control switch locking mechanism of the Air India AI-171 aircraft that crashed last year, killing 260 people, the government informed Parliament.
Replying
to questions during the Monsoon Session, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said advanced testing carried out by the aircraft’s Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) found no defect in the fuel control switch or its locking mechanism.
“A detailed examination of the fuel control switch, including the structural integrity of its locking detents, found no abnormality,” the minister said.
The tests were ordered by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) as part of continuing airworthiness checks after the aircraft type was grounded in February this year.
However, Mohol said a detailed inspection of the complete Thrust Control Module is still underway at the OEM’s facility in Seattle, with investigators awaiting its findings.
The government also rejected suggestions that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) had delayed its final report into the crash, saying investigations into major air accidents do not follow a fixed timeline and evolve as new evidence emerges.
“All probable causes and contributing factors leading to the accident are being investigated,” the minister said.
According to the government, the AI-171 investigation is now in its final stages and the AAIB’s final report will be made public and uploaded to its website once the probe is complete.
