Air India Grounds Boeing 787 After Pilot Reports Fuel Switch Issue

Air India has grounded a Boeing 787 Dreamliner after a pilot reported a possible defect with the aircraft’s fuel control switch, a component under scrutiny following last year’s deadly crash in Gujarat that killed 260 people. The airline did not disclose the exact nature of the defect or the flight details, though sources said the issue was noted after the plane landed in Bengaluru from London.

The airline confirmed it was in contact with Boeing on a priority basis, and the aircraft maker said it is providing support. Air India operates 33 Dreamliners, and fuel control switches, which manage engine fuel flow and can manually start or stop engines, were identified as a key factor in the previous crash.

Air India stated it had inspected all fuel control switches in its fleet following regulator directives last year and found no faults. The airline has also informed India’s aviation regulator about the latest incident, though the regulator has not commented yet.

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