Air India faces UK probe on Boeing 787 fuel switch

• UK CAA seeks details from Air India on fuel switch issue.
• DGCA found procedure not followed, advised crew adherence.
• Air India re-inspected fleet, no issues found.

The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has sought details from Air India regarding an incident involving a Boeing 787-8 aircraft that faced a fuel control switch issue at London’s Heathrow airport before

its scheduled departure for Bengaluru on February 1, sources said, as reported by PTI.

An Air India pilot flagged a defect in the fuel control switch on February 2 after operating flight AI132. Following the report, the airline grounded the aircraft for checks after it landed in Bengaluru the same day.

Initial examination by India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), found that “apparently correct procedure” was not followed while operating the switch, and the airline was advised to ensure crew adherence to proper procedures.

Also Read: When AI-171 Crashed Due To Fuel Switch Fault, Why Did AI-132 Fly With The Same Issue?

On Wednesday, sources said the UK CAA formally asked Air India to share details of the incident, PTI reported. Responding to queries, an Air India spokesperson said the airline has completed precautionary re-inspections of the Fuel Control Switch (FCS) across all operational Boeing 787 aircraft in its fleet and that no issues were detected during the checks.

“Air India will respond to the UK regulator accordingly,” the spokesperson said. Meanwhile, a source indicated that the DGCA may examine whether the aircraft, VT-ANX, should have been grounded at London Heathrow instead of operating the flight to Bengaluru.

The functioning of fuel control switches has come under scrutiny following last year’s crash involving an Air India Boeing 787-8, after a preliminary probe indicated fuel supply was cut off shortly after take-off.

Also Read: ‘No Issues Were Identified’: Air India After Fuel Control Switch Re-inspections Of Boeing 787 Fleet