SINGAPORE— One of the best airlines in the world, Singapore Airlines (SQ), has confirmed that all fuel switches on its Boeing 787 aircraft, as well as those of its subsidiary Scoot (TR), are functioning normally and meet regulatory standards.
The announcement follows precautionary inspections after India’s recent crash involving an Air India (AI) Boeing 787 Dreamliner at Ahmedabad (AMD), raising concerns about inadvertent fuel cutoff.
Photo: Kwok Ho Eddie Wong | FlickrSingapore Airlines Clears 787 Fuel Switches
In response to global safety concerns, Singapore Airlines and its budget arm Scoot have successfully completed checks on the fuel control switches of all Boeing 787s in their fleets. SIA operates 26 Dreamliners, while Scoot manages 23 of the same model.
Both airlines confirmed full compliance with safety regulations and reported no anomalies in the fuel systems. “The safety of our customers and staff is our top priority,” SIA said in a statement.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is collaborating with both carriers to extend the inspections to all Singapore-registered Boeing 737, 787, and 747-400F aircraft. So far, no issues have been detected.
Photo: Siddh Dhuri, Compounded by Aviation A2ZTriggered by the Fatal Air India Crash
These inspections follow a tragic incident on June 12 involving Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad (AMD).
The aircraft struck a medical college hostel, killing 260 people — including 229 passengers, 12 crew members, and multiple individuals on the ground.
A preliminary crash report revealed that the fuel control switch was likely moved from the “run” to the “cutoff” position, shutting off fuel supply to the engines mid-flight.
A cockpit voice recording captured a pilot questioning the other’s action: “Why did you cut off the engine?”
This triggered urgent reviews by aviation regulators in India, South Korea, and Japan. Aviation experts, including former maintenance executive Chow Kok Wah, stressed that such a switch movement cannot occur by accident due to design safeguards.
Photo: CHEN AI | JetPhotosCAAS and Regional Authorities on Alert
CAAS is proactively overseeing fuel system checks across the Singaporean aviation sector. The safety campaign is part of a wider, coordinated international effort in light of findings from the Air India crash investigation.
Singapore Airlines holds a 25.1% stake in Air India and operates joint SQ-TR services to Indian destinations.
This partnership further heightens its accountability and involvement in regional aviation safety standards.
Photo: Clément AlloingEtihad Cautions Pilots and Inspects 787
Etihad Airways (EY) has issued a safety directive to its Boeing 787 pilots regarding careful handling of fuel control switches.
The airline, headquartered at Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH), is acting in line with a U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) advisory as investigations into the Air India crash remain ongoing.
On July 12, Etihad Airways (EY) distributed an internal bulletin advising pilots to exercise extra caution when operating fuel control switches on Boeing 787 aircraft. This includes avoiding the placement of loose objects on the pedestal area, where accidental switch activation could occur.
The directive was issued in response to a global FAA communication that revisited its 2018 safety advisory concerning the risk of unintentional activation of fuel cutoff switches on Boeing aircraft, including the 787 series.
Etihad emphasized that this action is precautionary. There have been no reported fuel switch issues within its own Boeing 787 fleet to date.
In addition to pilot instructions, Etihad has directed its engineering division to inspect the fuel switch locking mechanisms across its entire Boeing 787 fleet. The technical bulletin outlines a specific inspection process to confirm that locking features engage correctly during operation.
Any deficiencies in the locking systems will trigger the replacement of the thrust control module. This step ensures full compliance with FAA-recommended preventive practices, even though the original 2018 guidance was not mandatory.
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