On the 787, the fuel cutoff switches are between the two pilots’ seats, immediately behind the plane’s throttle levers. They are protected on the sides by a metal bar and have a locking mechanism designed to prevent accidental cutoff.
The fuel switches were “designed to be intentionally moved,” according to CNN safety analyst David Soucie, who said cases in which all fuel switches were turned off accidentally are “extremely rare.”
“Throughout the years, those switches have been improved to make sure that they cannot be accidentally moved and that they’re not automatic. They don’t move themselves in any manner,” Soucie said on Friday.
The FAA issued Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) No. NM-18-33 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 airworthiness directive
(AD) by the FAA. 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.
I take the experts' word for it. This non-aeronautical idiot blogger is not going to engage in conspiracy theories. The photo just does not align with my expectations.
I see the "metal guard", a metal half-circle on either side of the fuel switches. I don't know what the "locking mechanism" is or if it was installed disengaged. The fuel switches are right below the throttle is what I alerted to. Since the plane in the photo is parked, I assume that the pilot would move the throttle back, that is toward the fuel switches for thrust in takeoff. There is no metal guard above the fuel switches. And if the heel of the pilot's hand hits the fuel switch? Again, I don't know what the locking mechanism is but evidently it is not too complex. Within three seconds the first mate noticed that the plane was getting no fuel, that the switches were off and he restarted them. Too late.