Air India Replaced Crashed Plane's Throttle Control Module Twice In 6 Years After Boeing Directive
The Throttle Control Module (TCM) of the ill-fated Air India plane, which crashed near the Ahmedabad airport on June 12, was replaced by the airline twice in the last six years, following a directive from Boeing in 2019, news agency PTI quoted sources as saying.
The TCM includes fuel control switches, the ones that feed fuel into the aircraft's engines, the focus to which was shifted in the ongoing probe into the crash.
The preliminary report on the crashed Air India plane, released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on Saturday, noted that the TCM was replaced in 2019 and 2023.
However, it also stated that the TCM replacement was not linked to the fuel control switches.
According to PTI, sources said that a revised maintenance planning document (MPD) was issued by Boeing for all the operators of the Dreamliners in 2019, according to which, the operators have to change the TCM every 24,000 flight hours.
Specific details about the MPD could not be immediately ascertained, the report stated.
It also quoted an Air India spokesperson as saying that the airline was working closely with stakeholders, including regulators.
'We continue to fully cooperate with the AAIB and other authorities as their investigation progresses. 'Given the active nature of the investigation, we are unable to comment on specific details and refer all such enquiries to the AAIB," the spokesperson said.
AAIB, in its report, mentioned that at this stage of the investigation, 'there are no recommended actions to B787-8 and/or GE GEnx-1B engine operators and manufacturers".
Air India's Dreamliner VT-ANB, which crashed on June 12, was powered by GEnx-1B engines.
According to the report, the FAA issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin on December 17, 2018, regarding the potential disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature.
'This SAIB was issued based on reports from operators of Model 737 airplanes that the fuel control switches were installed with the locking feature disengaged. The airworthiness concern was not considered an unsafe condition that would warrant an airworthiness directive by the FAA," it said.
AAIB also said the fuel control switch design, including the locking feature, is similar on various Boeing airplane models including part number 4TL837-3D, which is fitted in B787-8 aircraft VT-ANB.
'As per the information from Air India, the suggested inspections were not carried out as the SAIB was advisory and not mandatory. The scrutiny of maintenance records revealed that the throttle control module was replaced on VT-ANB in 2019 and 2023."
'However, the reason for the replacement was not linked to the fuel control switch. There has been no defect reported pertaining to the fuel control switch since 2023 on VT-ANB," the report stated.
After being in cut-off mode, the fuel control switches of the aircraft's two engines were turned on later, but the London-bound aircraft could not get enough thrust and altitude before it crashed into a building in Ahmedabad, killing 260 people.
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With this induction, India not only sharpens its military edge but also deepens strategic defence ties with the United States, reinforcing its position as a serious regional power. About the Author Karishma Jain Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follow her @ More Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : air defence apache helicopter india Indian Army view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 16, 2025, 13:57 IST News explainers The Helicopter That Hunts Without Being Seen: What Apache Will Add To India's Air Power Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. 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