Air India has grounded one of its Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliners after a pilot reported a potential defect with a fuel control switch during engine start-up. The incident occurred on February 2, 2026, when Flight AI132 arrived in Bengaluru from London Heathrow. The crew noticed that the left engine’s fuel control switch did not remain in the “RUN” position and showed signs of slipping toward “CUTOFF”, which would cut off fuel to the engine if moved inadvertently during flight.
In response, the airline immediately withdrawn the aircraft (registration VT‑ANX) from service, informed India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and escalated the issue to Boeing for technical evaluation. Air India engineers are working with the manufacturer to assess the fault.
The fuel control switch is a critical component in Boeing 787s, managing fuel flow to engines and designed to stay firmly in its selected position. A switch moving unintentionally during flight could cause an engine shutdown, posing a serious safety risk.
Following the incident, Air India has initiated precautionary inspections of fuel control switches across its entire Boeing 787 fleet. Half of the aircraft have been checked so far, with no defects reported on inspected planes. Pilots have been reminded to report any abnormalities immediately.
The concern is heightened due to the June 12, 2025 crash of Air India Flight AI171 near Ahmedabad, in which a Boeing 787‑8 went down shortly after take-off, killing 260 people. A preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) revealed that both engine fuel control switches had moved from RUN to CUTOFF in quick succession, leading to loss of thrust, though the exact cause of the movement remains under investigation.
Aviation safety groups and pilot associations have called for transparent investigations and thorough inspections of Boeing 787 systems. Air India and regulators emphasize crew safety and prompt reporting as inspections continue.
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