This comes after the preliminary investigative report released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) about the Air India crash that took place on the 12th of June 2025, which stated that the stalling of both the engines of the 787 was due to the fuel switch being switched from RUN to CUTOFF
The preliminary report also stated that the suggested inspections were not carried out as the 2018 SAIB was advisory and not mandatory. Representational Pic
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Monday released a Compliance order to all airlines, which makes it mandatory for them to follow 2018 the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) numbered NM-13-33, which addressed multiple models of Boeing aircraft, and advices all airlines to check the fuel control switch locking feature.
The SAIB from December 17, 2018 reads, “This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) is to advise registered owners and operators of The Boeing Company Model 717-200 airplanes; Model 737-700, -700C, -800, and -900ER series airplanes; Model 737-8 and -9 airplanes; Model 747-400, -400D, -400F, -8, and -8F series airplanes; Model 757-200, -200CB, -200PF, and -300 series airplanes; Model 767-200, -300, 300F, -400ER, and -2C series airplanes; Model 787-8, -9, and -10 airplanes; Model MD-11 and MD-11F airplanes; and Model MD-90-30 airplanes of the potential for disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature(SIC).”
This comes after the preliminary investigative report released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) about the Air India crash that took place on the 12th of June 2025, which stated that the stalling of both the engines of the 787 was due to the fuel switch being switched from RUN to CUTOFF.
The preliminary report also stated that the suggested inspections were not carried out as the 2018 SAIB was advisory and not mandatory. Which means that many of the airlines have not complied with the installation and checking of the aircraft’s fuel switches.
The importance of the switches comes with the fact that they control the supply of fuel to the engines of the aircraft. “If the locking feature is disengaged, the switch can be moved between the two positions without lifting the switch during transition, and the switch would be exposed to the potential of inadvertent operation. Inadvertent operation of the switch could result in an unintended consequence, such as an in-flight engine shutdown, (SIC)” read the 2018 SAIB.
An aviation expert on condition of anonymity told mid-day, “This should have been made mandatory a long time back. Why wait for a fatal accident to happen? Even if it is a SAIB, that means something is wrong. No doubt the SAIB should have been an Airworthiness Directive (AD) at the very first place but even a SAIB means something is wrong and needs to be checked at the earliest." The expert added, "this has been a case with many Indian airlines that a SAIB is ignored leading to such fatal accidents."
The order released by DGCA on Monday, has made the previous 2018 SAIB, which was an advisory, a mandatory instruction now. The order reads, “In view of the above, all airline operators of the affected aircraft are hereby advised to complete the inspection required under SAIB Number: NM-18-33, dated 17th December 2018, no later than 21st July 2025. Inspection plan and report after accomplishment of inspection shall be submitted to this office under intimation to the concerned Regional Office. (SIC)”
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