Air India Grounds Boeing 787 Dreamliner After Pilot Flags Critical Fuel Switch Defect

Air India has grounded one of its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft following a report from the flight crew about a possible defect with an engine fuel control switch. The airline took the plane out of service immediately as a precautionary safety measure on Monday, February 2, 2026.

The incident involves a critical component of the aircraft's fuel system. The issue was flagged after the aircraft, operating as Flight AI132 from London to Bengaluru, landed safely.

Incident Details and Technical Concern

The pilot reported abnormal behavior from the left engine fuel control switch during pre-flight procedures.

Specifically, the switch reportedly failed to remain locked in the 'RUN' position. It moved toward the 'CUTOFF' position on two separate attempts during the engine start sequence.

This type of malfunction has the potential to cut off the fuel supply to the engine. Such an event could force an engine shutdown under certain operational scenarios.

Critical Safety Context

This fuel control switch defect has drawn immediate and intense scrutiny from the industry. The same issue was central to the investigation of the fatal Air India Flight 171 crash in June 2025.

That accident involved another Boeing 787-8, which crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad. The preliminary probe indicated that the loss of thrust in both engines was caused by their fuel control switches moving from 'RUN' to 'CUTOFF'.

Following the 2025 crash, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had directed Air India to conduct checks on the fuel control switches across its entire Boeing 787 fleet.

Air India had previously stated that those fleet-wide checks found no issues.

Industry Impact and Response

The airline has communicated the matter to the DGCA and is involving the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), Boeing, to examine the issue.

Boeing confirmed it is in contact with the airline and is supporting the review of the matter.

• The immediate Air India operational disruption is expected to be minimal. The grounding affects only one aircraft for now.
• However, the incident raises concerns about the potential for a systemic component defect.
• The DGCA safety probe will focus on whether this is an isolated mechanical failure or a broader issue requiring a new fleet-wide directive.

The incident underscores the critical role of pilot reporting in maintaining aviation safety standards. It also highlights the ongoing scrutiny of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner's fuel system components following the fatal 2025 crash.

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