Air India Inspects Boeing 787 Fuel Controls After Flight Grounding

Air India has launched inspections of fuel control switches on its 33 Boeing 787 aircraft after grounding a flight due to a reported defect, the airline said in an internal note seen by AFP on Tuesday.

The move comes as Indian authorities continue investigating last year’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash that killed 260 people shortly after takeoff.

The inspection followed the grounding of a Boeing 787-8 on Monday, after a pilot reported a potential issue with the fuel control switch. The airline’s internal note stated: “Following the reported defect, engineering has escalated the matter to Boeing for priority evaluation.”

India’s aviation regulator clarified that the problem on Monday’s flight was caused by incorrect handling of the fuel switch, rather than a mechanical fault. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation said the fuel control switch, which manages fuel flow to the engines, did not “remain positively latched in the run position when light vertical pressure was applied” during the first two attempts. It functioned normally on the third attempt, and the flight was completed safely.

The regulator advised Air India to strengthen crew training on Boeing’s recommended procedures for operating the fuel control switch.