Air India has grounded a Boeing 787 Dreamliner after a pilot reported a possible defect in a fuel control switch, a component central to the investigation into last June's deadly crash in Ahmedabad. The incident occurred after the aircraft landed in Bengaluru following a flight from London.
According to sources quoted by The Times of India, one of the switches moved from 'run' to 'cutoff' during engine start at London Heathrow, even though the required safety action of lifting the switch was not followed. The pilot found the lock feature failed on two attempts but worked on the third.
Air India said in a statement: 'We are aware that one of our pilots has reported a possible defect on the fuel control switch of a Boeing 787-8 aircraft. After receiving this initial information, we have grounded the said aircraft and are involving the Original Equipment Manufacturers to get the pilot’s concerns checked on a priority basis.' The airline also launched a fleet-wide inspection of fuel control switches.
The June crash in Ahmedabad killed 260 people. A preliminary investigation reported confusion in the cockpit about the fuel switches shortly before the crash, but found no technical or design fault, implying pilot error. The London incident casts doubt on that assumption.
Air safety expert Amit Singh said the incident raises 'serious questions about inspection adequacy' given that Air India had previously checked the switches and found no issues. The Federation of Indian Pilots has renewed its call for Boeing 787s to be grounded.
