"In a complaint filed on Tuesday in Delaware superior court, the plaintiffs said the locking mechanism for the switch on the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner could be turned off inadvertently or missing, causing a loss of fuel supply and loss of thrust needed for takeoff. They said Boeing and Honeywell, which respectively installed and manufactured the switch, knew about that risk, especially after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) cautioned in 2018 about disengaged locking mechanisms on several Boeing aircraft."
"A report from a preliminary investigation into the crash by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) said Air India had not conducted the suggested inspections and that maintenance records showed the throttle control module, where the fuel switches are, was replaced in 2019 and 2023 on the plane involved in the crash. A cockpit recording of dialogue between the jet's two pilots suggests the captain cut the flow of fuel to the plane's engines."
"The lawsuit maintains that the switches are in a place in the cockpit where they are more likely to be inadvertently pushed, which effectively guaranteed that normal cockpit activity could result in inadvertent fuel cutoff. However, aviation safety experts told Reuters that they could not be accidentally flipped based on their location and design. Boeing, based in Arlington, Virginia, declined to comment. Honeywell, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Both companies are incorporated in Delaware."
Families of four passengers who died on Air India flight 171 on 12 June sued Boeing and Honeywell in Delaware superior court, alleging negligence and a faulty fuel cutoff switch. Plaintiffs say the locking mechanism on the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner can be turned off inadvertently or be missing, causing fuel supply loss and loss of thrust during takeoff. Plaintiffs contend Boeing and Honeywell knew of the risk after an FAA 2018 caution. An AAIB preliminary report noted Air India did not perform suggested inspections and maintenance records show throttle control module replacements in 2019 and 2023. A cockpit recording suggests the captain cut fuel flow. Aviation experts told Reuters the switches could not be accidentally flipped. Boeing declined to comment; Honeywell did not immediately respond. The suit seeks unspecified damages.
Read at www.theguardian.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]