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What is the story about?
Air India CEO Campbell Wilson on Wednesday said the airline’s safety and reporting systems worked exactly the way they are meant to, as he responded for the first time on record to the recent fuel control switch concern on an Air India flight from London to India.
This marks the Air India CEO’s first public reaction after the incident, which occurred on February 2 and later drew the attention of aviation regulators in India and the UK.
Speaking to CNBC-TV18, Wilson said safety remains the first priority for every airline and stressed that a strong reporting culture, where crew feel free to raise concerns, is central to aviation safety.
“In this particular case, a report was made, it was investigated, and the regulator found there was no substance to what was feared,” Wilson said. He added that this was an example of good safety procedure in action.
On February 2, Air India said it had grounded a Boeing 787 Dreamliner after a pilot reported a possible defect in the fuel control switch on landing from London. The fuel control switch is a critical cockpit component that manages fuel flow to the aircraft’s engines.
As a precaution, the aircraft was taken out of service for checks.
India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, reviewed the matter and later said that no abnormality was found, reinforcing that established safety checks had been followed.
The issue also drew scrutiny from the UK Civil Aviation Authority. In a letter dated February 3, the UK regulator warned Air India of possible regulatory action if the airline does not submit a complete response within a week.
Also Read | Fuel switch under scrutiny again: Air India pilot flags post-flight glitch after fresh scare
In response, Air India said it had completed a precautionary re inspection of the fuel control switches across its Boeing 787 fleet, found no issues, and would respond to the UK regulator accordingly.
Wilson said such incidents can often be sensationalised but passengers should take confidence from the robustness of the aviation safety system.
He said aviation is one of the most regulated industries in the world and that global oversight of regulators is a key reason air travel remains extremely safe.
Wilson added that the evolution of India’s aviation regulatory framework is something the country should be proud of, as it is enabling the safe growth of aviation in India.
This marks the Air India CEO’s first public reaction after the incident, which occurred on February 2 and later drew the attention of aviation regulators in India and the UK.
Speaking to CNBC-TV18, Wilson said safety remains the first priority for every airline and stressed that a strong reporting culture, where crew feel free to raise concerns, is central to aviation safety.
“In this particular case, a report was made, it was investigated, and the regulator found there was no substance to what was feared,” Wilson said. He added that this was an example of good safety procedure in action.
On February 2, Air India said it had grounded a Boeing 787 Dreamliner after a pilot reported a possible defect in the fuel control switch on landing from London. The fuel control switch is a critical cockpit component that manages fuel flow to the aircraft’s engines.
As a precaution, the aircraft was taken out of service for checks.
India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, reviewed the matter and later said that no abnormality was found, reinforcing that established safety checks had been followed.
The issue also drew scrutiny from the UK Civil Aviation Authority. In a letter dated February 3, the UK regulator warned Air India of possible regulatory action if the airline does not submit a complete response within a week.
Also Read | Fuel switch under scrutiny again: Air India pilot flags post-flight glitch after fresh scare
In response, Air India said it had completed a precautionary re inspection of the fuel control switches across its Boeing 787 fleet, found no issues, and would respond to the UK regulator accordingly.
Wilson said such incidents can often be sensationalised but passengers should take confidence from the robustness of the aviation safety system.
He said aviation is one of the most regulated industries in the world and that global oversight of regulators is a key reason air travel remains extremely safe.
Wilson added that the evolution of India’s aviation regulatory framework is something the country should be proud of, as it is enabling the safe growth of aviation in India.
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