Air India Fuel Switch Mystery: DGCA Investigation Reveals Startling Clues

• An Air India flight AI-132 from London to Bengaluru reported a suspected malfunction in a highly sensitive 'fuel control switch'.
• DGCA's 'on-site' investigation found the switch's 'locking tooth' in perfect condition, indicating it cannot move to 'CUTOFF' without external force.
• A critical finding suggests the switch's base plate angle could allow accidental movement from 'RUN' to 'CUTOFF' if pressure is applied incorrectly.
• The suspicious fuel control module, with only 3,440 operational hours out of 20,000, has been sent to Boeing (USA) for detailed 'metallurgical' and 'mechanical' examination.
• Aviation experts highlight the fuel control switch as the 'heart valve' of the aircraft; its accidental cutoff during flight is an emergency.

Why It Matters: DGCA's probe into Air India's fuel switch incident uncovers design concerns, prompting Boeing lab testing.