Appeal # 7
Some media outlets rushed to blame the pilots before the Air India 171 crash report was even released—claiming they shut off the fuel-control switches.
That claim doesn’t hold.
- These switches aren’t simple toggles.
They are spring-loaded, guarded, and require a two-step motion: pull and twist. Accidental activation is virtually impossible. - Crash-site photos confirm both switches were found in the “RUN” position.
The pilots did not shut off the fuel. The data and cockpit audio back this up. - The FAA warned about this risk.
A 2018 FAA advisory (SAIB NM‑18‑33) identified potential malfunctions in these very switches—used in both the 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner. Excerpt attached at bottom.
Meanwhile, pilots are raising red flags about other hardware and software faults in Boeing’s fuel and engine control systems—yet those warnings are ignored. If Boeing’s defense is technical confusion, then these planes must be grounded immediately.
If another 737 MAX or 787 Dreamliner crashes and lives are lost, the blame won’t lie with pilots—it will rest squarely on those who ignored the warnings and protected profits over people.
Be mindful.
No amount of profit will erase the weight of the hardship and loss caused to the relatives and those who die. That crushing burden will wring out your peace and snatch joy from your soul now and in the future. God forbid, if one of your loved ones is caught in such an accident. You will never be able to forgive yourself.
Ground these aircraft. Scrap the defect-prone fleets.
