The Air India tragedy is now being seen not just as a localized accident, but as a possible failure of global aviation oversight. The fatal movement of fuel-control switches — and the absence of any mechanical or pilot-based explanation — has reignited debate over how safety bulletins, advisories, and aircraft design risks are tracked and acted upon globally.
Global Oversight Under the Spotlight
The 2018 FAA bulletin warned that fuel-control switches on 787s could, under specific wear-and-tear conditions, fail to remain locked in RUN. Although non-binding, such advisories form a crucial part of what safety regulators call “soft compliance.” But many airlines do not act unless an Airworthiness Directive (AD) is issued.
This raises a key question: Should potentially catastrophic advisories be mandatory?
Global Fleet Implications
- Boeing has delivered over 1,000 Dreamliners worldwide.
- None have previously reported a simultaneous dual-engine shutdown due to switch faults.
- Now, airlines and regulators may need to reinspect switch guards across the fleet.
FAA and EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) are reportedly reviewing whether the SAIB should now become a formal directive.
Systemic Gaps Identified
- Fragmented Compliance Cultures: Not all airlines treat advisories equally.
- Opaque Safety Communication: Safety-related issues buried in optional service bulletins may be overlooked.
- Data Silos: Incidents not shared promptly across fleets or regulators limit global learning.
- Reactive vs. Proactive Oversight: Too often, changes come after tragedy.
What Needs to Change
- Centralized Reporting Hubs: Create shared global registries of all advisories with tracking on implementation.
- Mandatory Flagging System: Use AI or regulatory screening to highlight any advisory with “catastrophic potential.”
- Annual Inspection Protocols: Include rarely used but critical components (like fuel switches) in yearly reviews.
Final Thoughts
While the AAIB’s interim findings are rooted in Indian airspace, their implications are global. The haunting silence around who or what moved the switches is matched only by the thunderous wake-up call the aviation world must heed.
