Air India has grounded a Boeing 787 Dreamliner after a pilot flagged a possible defect in the aircraft’s fuel control switch — a critical component that has remained under scrutiny since last year’s fatal crash in Gujarat that claimed 260 lives.
According to sources, the issue was detected after the aircraft landed in Bengaluru following a flight from London. While Air India has not disclosed the exact nature of the reported defect or the flight number, it confirmed that the aircraft has been taken out of service as a precautionary measure.
Aircraft maker alerted
Air India said it is working closely with Boeing on a priority basis to assess the issue. Boeing, in a brief statement, confirmed that it is providing technical support to the airline.
Fuel control switches play a crucial role in managing fuel flow to aircraft engines and can be used to manually start or shut down engines. These switches were identified as a key factor during investigations into last year’s Dreamliner crash in Gujarat, which led to heightened regulatory oversight of the component.
Fleet checks already conducted
The airline currently operates 33 Boeing 787 Dreamliners. Following directions issued by aviation regulators after the Gujarat crash, Air India said it had conducted inspections of fuel control switches across its entire Dreamliner fleet and found no faults at the time.
“Safety remains our top priority,” the airline said, adding that it has informed India’s aviation regulator of the latest incident and is awaiting further guidance.
Regulator yet to comment
India’s civil aviation regulator has not yet issued a statement on the grounding. Industry sources said the aircraft will remain grounded until technical checks are completed and clearance is obtained.
The incident underscores the heightened caution airlines are exercising around critical aircraft systems in the aftermath of recent aviation tragedies, with carriers opting for preventive groundings even when issues are detected post-flight.