Recent developments in global affairs highlight ongoing challenges in maritime security and provide a degree of reassurance in the aviation sector. Maritime agencies Diaplous and Ambrey have officially concluded their search for the remaining crew members of the Eternity C vessel, which was attacked by Yemen's Houthi rebels last week. Concurrently, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has declared that Boeing's (BA) fuel switch locks are safe, requiring no further regulatory action.
Maritime Search Ends for Eternity C Crew After Houthi Attack
The search for the remaining crew of the Eternity C vessel, which was targeted by Yemen's Houthi rebels in the Red Sea last week, has been called off by maritime agencies Diaplous and Ambrey. The Eternity C sustained significant damage and lost all propulsion after being attacked by men in small boats and bomb-carrying drones, eventually sinking off Yemen's port city of Hodeidah.
The attack on the Eternity C marks a continuation of Houthi assaults on shipping in the Red Sea, which had seen a recent increase in traffic. Reports indicate that four of the 25 people on board the Eternity C were killed, making these the first reported deaths from such attacks since June 2024. Six crew members were initially rescued after spending over 24 hours in the water, and subsequently, three more crew members and a security guard were pulled from the Red Sea, bringing the total number of rescued individuals to ten. The crew consisted of 21 Filipinos and one Russian. The United States Mission in Yemen has accused the Houthis of kidnapping many of the surviving crew members and has called for their immediate and unconditional release. The Houthis, however, claim their naval forces responded to rescue part of the crew, provide medical assistance, and transport them to a safe location.
This incident underscores the persistent geopolitical risks in key shipping lanes, which continue to impact global supply chains and necessitate robust maritime security measures. Leading shipping industry associations have denounced the attack and called for sustained international support in protecting vital sea lanes.
FAA Clears Boeing Fuel Switch Locks Amid Safety Scrutiny
In a significant development for the aerospace industry, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has affirmed the safety of Boeing (BA) aircraft's fuel switch locks, stating that they do not require any action from regulators. This announcement comes after a preliminary report into a deadly Boeing 787-8 crash in India last month, which claimed 260 lives, raised questions about the aircraft's fuel cutoff switches.
The FAA issued a "Continued Airworthiness Notification" to global aviation regulators on July 11, emphasizing that despite the fuel control switch design and its locking feature being consistent across various Boeing models, the agency "does not consider this issue to be an unsafe condition that would warrant an Airworthiness Directive." Boeing (BA) echoed this sentiment in a "Multi-Operator Message" sent to airline operators, stating that the planemaker is not recommending any further action.
The preliminary findings from India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) referenced a non-mandatory 2018 FAA advisory that encouraged operators to inspect the locking mechanisms on fuel switches. Air India, the airline involved in the crash, had not performed these recommended checks as they were not regulatory requirements. The AAIB report noted that both fuel switches moved from "run" to "cutoff" positions almost simultaneously shortly after takeoff, an unexplained occurrence. Despite this, the FAA and Boeing's latest statements aim to reassure the market and operators about the inherent safety of these components. This clearance from the FAA is a positive indicator for Boeing (BA) as it navigates ongoing scrutiny regarding its aircraft safety.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.