Air India Reports Another 'fuel Switch' Malfunction, Aircraft Grounded Before Flight Takeoff

New Delhi: Air India's Boeing 787-8 aircraft is once again in the spotlight. On Monday, the airline reported that a fuel switch malfunction was discovered on a flight from London to Bengaluru, leading to the flight being grounded. The airline informed the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) about the incident, after which the DGCA instructed them to check the fuel switches on all other aircraft. The airline stated that all aircraft were inspected, and no defects were found.

What did Air India say?

In a statement issued on the matter, Air India said, “We have received information that one of our pilots reported a potential malfunction in the fuel control switch of a Boeing 787-8 aircraft. Upon receiving initial information, we grounded the aircraft and engaged the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) to conduct an investigation based on the pilot's concerns.”

The airline further added, "The DGCA has been informed about this matter.  Following the DGCA's instructions, Air India inspected the fuel control switches of all Boeing 787 aircraft in its fleet, and no problems were found. The safety of passengers and crew is paramount at Air India.” It is noteworthy that this incident comes just a few months after an Air India flight from Ahmedabad to London crashed, killing 260 people. A similar situation was reported during the investigation of that accident.

What happened on the flight from London to Bengaluru?

A press report released by the Safety Matters Foundation on social media stated that the flight crew informed the pilot about the unusual behavior of the fuel control switch in the left engine. According to media reports, the crew member said, "During engine start-up, the fuel control was repeatedly changing its position; it was not staying in the 'on' position but kept shifting towards 'cut-off'." In such situations, the engine sometimes shuts down during the flight, which can lead to an accident."  The flight was grounded after this information came to light.