Akasa Air says no issues found in fuel switches in its Boeing 737 MAX planes

Mumbai – Low-cost carrier Akasa Air announced today that its thorough inspection of the fuel switch locking mechanisms across its Boeing 737 MAX fleet has revealed no adverse findings. This follows India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issuing a nationwide safety directive earlier this month.

🛫 Background: Why Inspections Were OrderedOn July 15, the DGCA mandated inspections of the fuel switch locking systems on all Boeing 737 and 787 aircraft operating in India. This precautionary step came in response to findings from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s preliminary report on the June 12 Air India Flight AI 171 crash. The report indicated that both engine fuel switches unexpectedly moved to the “cut‑off” position within a second after takeoff .The DGCA required airlines to complete inspections and submit their findings by July 21

Akasa Air’s FindingsAkasa Air operates a fleet of 19 Boeing 737 MAX 8s, 7 MAX 200s and some MAX 10s (currently in order) . The airline reports it conducted thorough checks of the fuel switch locking assemblies in compliance with the DGCA directive. The official statement from Akasa reads:

“We confirm that no issues have been found in our Boeing 737 MAX fuel switch locking systems, and there has been no disruption to our operations.”

Breaking from earlier inspection rounds that focused on emergency exit safety, these checks specifically targeted fuel control hardware following the Air India investigation.

Industry-Wide ResponseAkasa Air joins peers such as Air India, SpiceJet, and Air India Express in completing the mandated inspections1. International carriers including Lufthansa, Qantas, ANA, and Singapore Airlines have also conducted similar inspections per FAA or local regulatory guidelines; none reported faults The Air India preliminary report did not find any inherent mechanical failure, and both Boeing and FAA have publicly supported the safety of existing fuel switch designs

What This Means for Akasa and Passengers

Operational continuity: No aircraft grounding or schedule disruptions reported.

Safety assurance: Reinforces stakeholder confidence in Akasa’s fleet integrity.

Risk mitigation: Proactive compliance underscores commitment to aviation safety.