Boeing, FAA Reportedly Notify That Fuel Control Switches Are Safe Amid Air India Crash Investigation

Boeing’s (BA) stock is likely to draw investor attention on Monday after the planemaker and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration reportedly issued notifications that the fuel switch locks on Boeing planes are safe.

The guidance came after a preliminary report into the crash of the Air India flight in June, which killed 260 people, raised some concerns over the 787-8 Dreamliner’s engine fuel cutoff switches.

According to a preliminary investigation report by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), shortly after takeoff, one pilot of the plane was heard on the cockpit voice recorder asking the other why he had cut off the fuel. The other pilot said that he did not do so.

Reuters reported, citing a document, the FAA notified other civil aviation authorities that while several Boeing aircraft models have similar fuel control switch design, including the locking feature, 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 planemaker also reportedly cited the FAA notification in a message sent to airlines over the past few days, which stated that it is not recommending any action regarding the switches.

The preliminary investigation report into the fatal crash reportedly contained references to a 2018 FAA advisory, which recommended that operators of several Boeing models, including the 787, inspect the locking feature of the fuel cutoff switches to ensure it could not be moved accidentally. However, it was not mandated.

While Air India did not conduct the inspections, the investigation report stated that the throttle control module, which includes the fuel switches, was replaced twice in 2019 and 2023 on the plane involved in the crash.

Stocktwits retail sentiment on Boeing was in the ‘extremely bullish’ territory, while retail chatter was ‘extremely high’ heading into Monday’s premarket open.
The report also said "all applicable airworthiness directives and alert service bulletins were complied with on the aircraft as well as engines."

Last week, the planemaker said that it delivered 60 aircraft in June, the highest number in 18 months, as it tries to stabilize production and return to profitability.

Boeing’s stock has gained 27.2% this year.

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